Depression, my story part one- The Pretender

    I have always been shy, well, not just shy, but painfully, exceptionally, extraordinarily shy.  I have a deep, irrational fear of rejection, the technical term is social phobia.  One on one, given time to feel out absolutely no threat, I can interact with others very well.  In a new situation, or particularly with groups, I am paralyzed.  It has haunted and hamstrung me most of my life, but never at anytime more than when I decided I might have the ability, the drive, and the heart to be a physician.