I'm going to be blunt. I've never had any friends. I missed out on socializing during my early years due to a horrible case of depression and anxiety. But now I'm a 20 year old with no social skills and I'm tired of being alone. Does anyone know of something that I can do?

I have found myself in the same situation recently. One thing the books can never teach you is how to feel comfortable. There is only one way to do this: Go to a social hotspot (clubs,bars, if in college, the campus,) and just approach different people. The only way to drop the anxiety is to just put the worries in the back of your head and just talk to people until you are comfortable. Some people come off, like I did, to be socially awkward. Just join in conversations, and you will eventually feel no anxiety talking to new people.

Note: Be suave when starting a conversation, don't just walk up and say hi out of the blue. The best thing to do when walking onto a social scene is to have a peacocking item, not outrageous, but something that will have people initiating talks with you.

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No Guile, No Game...No Girl

Well, the fact that you registered on the forum and asked this question is a start.

I don't see where your located. Join a lair! That is what I did. In a way, this forum is kinda like a lair but the person to person social interaction is also a big plus.

But personally, unless you have some incredibly disabling mental or physical disease (or condition), you have social skills.... just not refined.

Also, have you thought of what you want as a goal? What does the end picture look like for you? A girlfriend? A wife? A Harem? Several fuck buddies? or just tons of great friends?

My beliefs are 3 things in life you need for the formula of happiness. Wealth. Health. Relationships. Its not necessarily 100% of each but rather the right balance for you! So, having 100% health and 100% wealth and 5% relationships is not good for me but for some it might.

When I first moved to Toronto, I had no friends, didn't know anybody and was the kid from a small town. I joined the Running Room, took courses with Toast Masters and joined the Business Casual meetup group (on meetup.com) for my city. I also did things like pub crawls, speed dating, etc .... Meeting people is actually quite easy... walking up and saying Hi.

Now, if you are going to want a girl, well things get a little more tricky but still relatively easy.

Alex had a great idea... peacocking is good way to start out if your nervous about starting the conversation. Just don't get suckered into the only thing you do is peacock or you suddenly become the creepy guy at the club. I'd dress normally but wear one thing outrageous that was somewhat in theme.

well first - chin up,
for most of the people who had negetive expirience have more difficults to get along with new people. but once you do get hooked with friends, you'll enjoy the results far more than someone else.
first i'd advice you to meet new friends at non-clubbing enviroment (no pubs or clubs)
try to join new groups of friends from jobs, school, neighbors and family ties. people who you can trust.
start to be more positive and build yourself hobbies and character. make sure, it's comfort, playful and such positive things. don't use the computer or facebook much, sometimes it hurts relationships.

learn popular things that you can teach your friend like surfing, dancing, music and even hooking up with girls.
good luck

the thing is you have two options really do you want to be lonely or loved? to be lonely is simple carry on doing what your doing already, being loved is different in that it means you have to interact with people sadly its not easy especially if you dont have any social skills. make friends with anybody talk to people wether its people at work or a stranger at the bus stop! like the previous poster said take a class in something yoga, meditation or cookery or whatever your interested in they'll be like minded people as well

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life sucks and then you die! deal with it