i barely have any friends?

Dear Tyler...  I'm so sorry you're going through this.  I hope knowing it's not that uncommon gives you some comfort.  Quite often people get lost in their heads... And oh..., all those outside forces!  We sometimes need help to rediscover ourselves. 

You do have resources at your immediate disposal.  School counselors and teachers!  For some strange reason, students have disregarded in-school counseling.

(Not cool?  Pfffftttt...  These are caring people!!!)

Your true self, that talkative and fun loving fourth grader, got lost.  Your true self is still present.  Discovering why you withdrew and getting back to your honest self is the process you're facing.  You can set yourself free!

Go to the counselor's office or a trusted teacher and say everything you just said to us.  If you're too self conscious, just show them this Q&A post.  All you have to do is say, "Please read this.  Can you help?"

Any school staff member worth their salt will devote hours to helping you.  They'll look to outside psychologists for extra info.  They'll guide you to discover everything you need to return to your true gregarious spirit.

I know.  It hurts.  I worked with many students who got lost.  You can be found.  Please ask for help.  It's a pretty cool journey back to the real you.  Even though there may be some scary parts, it's the best journey! At the end of the adventure, you get to find a great person - you!

🌹

You can talk with me anytime.  Just click my profile, click follow, then message.

🌹

Hang on in there Tyler. You are amongst friends here in any case. Happy's advice is good too.

I think it's much more important to find your own personal happiness first.  You seem to be wanting to make friends so badly you're not realizing that you just might be turning people off by being so desperate.  People are more attracted to confident, happy people.  You can have all the friends in the world and still not be happy.  Happiness comes from within yourself.  Step back and think about what in life makes you happy .. And go after that.  You just might be surprised how more people would want to be a part of sharing that with you and be your friend.  Good Luck.

I stayed to myself in school. You have cliques of all types in school. Be yourself you will find friends. Or just come here we are all friends. Im the craaaazzzy one so watch out.

When I was younger, I didn't talk a all. It didn't help the fact that I was constantly moving, so I don't know/even remember some of the people I got to talk to. Before, I never really saw being quiet as a problem. I was naturally quiet, so I had nothing to be sad about. It was a consequence of my personality. About two years after moving, I began to realize I couldn't be alone anymore. I wouldn't socialize AT ALL. I would always sit alone where people would pity me! My first friend was a senior! Who unfortunately had to graduate and I was alone again. Then, I started to speak up during class; I made sure I tried my best to be notice among my classmates. I won a writing contest in the 8th grade. I got the highest grade in an editorial assignment in the 10th grade. From then on, I was known as the writer. People started to recognize me and I made good friends. I started late, but it's not impossible! Now, I'm almost in the 12th grade and I haven't been closer with my friends.

My advice is to do something you love that will make you stand out. That's what I did, and it may work out for you. You're a writer too, right? (: Enter a club, maybe? But do not force a friendship. Let it build up, and then you'll get to enjoy it more. Those people who promise you empty rewards of "friendship" may regret not having you as a friend in the near future! Don't be afraid to talk to someone about it, as Happy mentioned!

Let me remind you again that you are always welcome on Blurtit. You are always welcome to sit at our lunch table :D

Tyler, along with all the other comments. Learn to be sociable—to smile, greet others and to carry on a conversation. It can be as simple as a comment on the weather. Remember: You have only 50 percent of the responsibility. The other half is up to the other person. If you blunder in speech, don’t feel condemned. If others laugh, learn to laugh with them! Saying “That didn’t come out right” will help you to relax and continue with the conversation. Be at ease. Look pleasant and smile. Maintain friendly eye contact and nod or verbally acknowledge what the other person says. By all means, stop worrying about whether the other person is evaluating you. Those who are worth having as friends many or few will judge not by outward appearances but by the kind of person you are inside. Also, try to think positively. No one is perfect; all of us have our strengths and our weaknesses. Remember, there are different ways of looking at things, different likes and dislikes. A difference of opinion does not mean a rejection of you as a person.
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In life, we should have some friends, in order to chat, get some information that we don't know, help each other etc. As it's important and share our ideas with them.

Time flies, so being happy and do what you can is worth than nothing.

Meet new people constantly to make friends- if you're only ever around the same people it is more difficult to make friends. Find stuff that you have in common and start conversations about that. And also, be more confident or fake it til you make it 😊