Thank you alot for this great bit of advice!, I do have to say while getting information from reddit and lemmy is not ideal, you also can't expect the average drug user to read papers and its not like the mainstream media/authorities/or schools are providing atequate harmreduction information

ps: if there is any bit of information/resource I should add anywhere, feel free to tell me!

If you can afford it, try to see a therapist instead. In the long run you'll probably save money doing that rather than using illicit drugs.

I used to sh frequently when I was younger. I got put on antidepressants and I've been a lot better since. I think it'd be really beneficial for you to have even just one session with a therapist.

As someone who's struggled with something similar, routine is a godsend. I highly recommend joining some kind of club, class, or event that's once every week or so. It's a lot easier to make yourself socialize if you get into a routine. Plus, you might meet some cool people.

Force yourself to go at least once to something interesting. Just once. If you don't like the vibe, you can zip on out of there, but you'll have made an attempt, which is much better than nothing. If you like it, then you've got something you can look forward to and is predictable.

I promise you, even if you feel meh about the people, socialization is going to help you feel better. Human brains are hardwired to be social, and will give you the happy chemical for doing it. As hard as it is, the people telling you to socialize more are right. I learned it the hard way.

BAD HARMREDUCTION ADVICE:

uiy, I feel like If I give you my honest opinon I might do alot of harm but I was in a very similar spot that you were a year or so ago, I used to have alot of issues socializing because I was afraid and didn't have the convidence to say the things on my mind and I couldn't process well enough

unless you are injecting highly contaminated drugs you shouldn't be doing significant damage to yourself, some stimulants have strong cardiovascular effects you should be aware of especially if you are in danger of having a stroke(like me)

something which really just helped me was taking very controlled amounts of prescription amphetamine since I have ADHD, it helped me form friendships that today I could not do without

but I want to warn you, while most drugs are not as harmful as they are depicted as in the media and so on, you don't want to reach a state where you are permanently chasing a high which you already are not able to feel anymore because you abused your substance of choice for too long, just slighly amp your life up and don't even think you can be in euphoria for the rest of your life if you just keep using