So there needs to be a bit of a disclaimer on this one - I'm not disappointed in myself or what I can do. Hell, three years ago I was finally diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder - Just a year and a half ago going to a bar and talking to people - or the idea of having a lot of friends - was so foreign to me that thinking about it sent me into deep depressions. Groups of people and being out in crowds gave me anxiety panic attacks. It was bad.

And now? I run social events regularly, am pretty much one of the figureheads for a few more, and am essentially known to be the one that's always there, always friendly, and sometimes even the life of the party. I'm living a life I want to live and I love it - I have tons of good friends, I'm constantly going out, and I'm always meeting new people. I owe all of this to many of the same ideals seddit uses - I forced myself to go out, no matter what, to talk to a certain amount of people, to never say no. It was hard. It took time, but now I am loving it.

Hell, even physically I'm better - I've dropped 55 pounds, went from worrying that I'm having a heart attack in a half mile to running regularly and training for a half marathon. I think I even look and dress way better.

But I'm stuck. I'm great at meeting people - doesn't matter what the group size is or if it's mixed or what - when it's just meeting them when it's just being social. But the second I think of a girl as someone I'd be interested in - or if I have the intention of approaching the group/person with interest - i either lock up or, if I know them from being social before, I can't escalate beyond the friendship. Too many girls in these social circles, even ones I don't talk to that much, confide in me and view me as that best friend and immediately start telling me about the cute guys in their lives. It's maddening - I've come so far in my life to reach the point where I can control a room socially, be the life of the party - but I seem to be completely unable to pick up any girls still.

So what can I do guys to focus on my weaknesses? Where could I be going wrong, what should I be thinking about or doing different?

Thanks guys. You might not have answered any of my questions in the past, but I know I'll get some good advice here. Hell - the good advice I got while lurking turned my life around as is...