Social anxiety and fear of rejection

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I've had anxiety my whole life and lately it's been particularly bad. I've been trying to get over a failed relationship that ended last year, and I've been feeling really lonely. At the same time, I haven't been feeling like socializing at all. My counsellor told me I need to get out and meet new people to get over my social anxiety. She suggested group events and online dating. I've been at it for months, but it just feels harder and harder the more I try.

Online dating has been especially hard. I was talking to a girl I was interested in for about a month, and then she suddenly started ignoring me. The same thing happened with a guy I liked; he messaged me every day for a month, I asked him to meet in person, and now he's stopped messaging me. I'm just tired of feeling rejected and not knowing why, especially since these people initially reached out to me and kept sending me messages.

I feel like if I could just make some friends or feel like I fit in somewhere everything would be better, but it's so hard to find people I like, and when I do I don't know how to become friends. All I want to do anymore is hide inside and play video games.

Have any of you had to deal with social anxiety and loneliness? Does it get better?

You kinda described my life, expect for the fact that you actually had a relationship haha. Yes it is very hard to meet someone who you can "click" with, the only luck I've had with friends was online. It is almost impossible to find potential friends or partners in my town since it is very small and there are almost no clubs or ways to meet people aside from hookup bars, which adults on the spectrum usually don't use (I think).

I would be making a bold claim if I said it gets better, because it doesn't for some people. I guess only time will tell *shrug*

I know that feeling. I was lucky enough to meet my wife a year after finishing high school, but she is quite introvert, so she is not much into social gatherings. I find myself in deep need of social interactions, so I put myself out there quite often; participating activities I am interested in, a lot of volunteer work. I currently don't study or work, so I might have many connections but I certainly don't seem to have made long term friendships. Dunno if it is me or them. Looking back I know I am being invited to events and gatherings, but I seem to avoid them because of how tiring it is for me. Eventually they stop inviting me, and eventually I stop talking to them. A pity really - they seem to care for me and enjoy my company, but I am so unsure of myself I don't know what to do around them.

So I am in the same boat as you. I don't know if it gets better. Personally, I am going to keep looking for those that I can feel fully comfortable with. I have no choice but to try and try and try eventually we can find those that we click with.

Social anxiety is the reason I'm so quiet. Almost everyone I do talk to likes me. But I'm always terrified as coming off as an idiot, making some stupid mistake or doing something contextually inappropriate without meaning to, so I don't talk to many people.