Don't feel stupid OP. This is how I feel around women, all the time. In fact the first real female friend I ever had took me 12+ years to find. But being exactly like you we stayed just friends. Nothing ever came out of it because I'm shy, introverted and generally just keep to myself. She was practically hanging off of me at several points but ,me being me, i never picked up on it. I never kissed her, never actually did anything intimate besides some hugging and I guess what could be considered as cuddling but nothing else. Now, a year later, and she barely talks to me anymore, never hangs out anymore. Heck the last time she had said a word to me was over a month ago.

Being shy sucks, but genuinely not knowing what to do in a situation like that is much, much worse. Age has nothing to do with it. I'm 28 and im the same way. I was never abandoned when I was younger but I was alone. I only ever had like 1 friend. The other people I hung around with bullied me constantly due to my weight at the time. Being aged 14-16 and 245lbs i guess that happens. Kids can be awful dicks at times. Imagine having the nickname B.O beluga. It wasn't fun.

They say most people experience their first love by the age of 16. Well i'm 12 years behind. I got to the point where it was all I would think about. Every woman I saw that was even remotely attractive my mind would go nuts. Every glance in my direction was like, "oooo, shes looking at me. Maybe she'll be the one". It actually started to make me feel ill.

Not anymore. I have accepted the fact that I am what I am. I've learned to actually be proud of the fact that I am a virgin. I've learned to be proud of the fact that I don't have had a multitude of girlfriends and kids to look after. I'm proud I havent given in to this social stigma that all guys want is sex and more sex. I don't have some annoying biotch breathing down my neck for child support, alimony, money, etc. I'm not opposed to the idea of having one but it no longer dominates my thinking day in and day out. If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen whether I want it to or not.

What you have to do OP is accept what is happening in your life. Find happiness in yourself first before going to find the one. Find out what makes YOU tick. Find out what makes you happy, find out what makes you shy and why. Then you will discover the way to beat it. I'm sure you are not as bad as you claim. People in our situation always exaggerate a little. Don't say I shouldn't be like this. That is saying that you should be like everyone else. Everyone is unique, everyone is great in their own way. They say when you meet the one, you will not be shy, you will not feel like running away, you will just "know". Well i for one am hoping this is true