And I believe it's very much a gender thing, women are taught to behave certain ways just like men are. Women gently test the waters and hold back our true thoughts and feelings, and find a neutral or compatible way of interacting. We escalate and build up and advance as we feel safe to do so.

Omg, you explain what I feel so well 😢 I feel like men are allowed to express their sexuality with no filters at all and sometimes it's even too much and with women it's opposite! I'm constantly afraid or testing if this is the right moment, the right time, the right people to say what I'm thinking or not. And the way I say the things is everything very thought and not espontaneous.

They may be wanting to get to know you better and let loose themselves, and can't because you aren't revealing who you really are.

Yes, this is precisely my problem. I repress so much and hold myself back so much I feel like my friends don't get to know me.😢 And then I just don't want to go out anymore, start distancing myself, because I feel so "careful" with what I speak all the time :'

PS- you don't need to censor swear words or gendered slurs in this sub.

Thanks for letting me know! I think you really nailed it, and could really understand my fears and problem with this... I feel much better after this comment, it will be a slow process, I hope I can become a more espontaneous person :'