How do I stop being prey in group situations?
M 20, neurotypical. Getting fit and confident didn't turn off my bully-magnet. Growing up I wasn't as handsome as i am right now, i was ostracized and then non-physically bullied up to the last day of high school (europe). The trauma is there (and I will talk to a therapist), when I met my partner's friend group i still felt like I was threatened and only later I realized this was the first time in my life I wasn't being preyed upon, but I still fucked it up because getting tense is a trauma response at this point. Either way, that was a rare exception, because whenever I try to be friendly with new people I always end up being looked upon as if I was some sort of circus animal, this goes as well for family and literal KIDS that will be making fun of me. Since I have 2-3 years of fighting experience I on rare occasions get physical to "defend my respect" (i know, cringe, but that's a literal panic response) and on those rare occasions I get laughed on, laughs like those literally keep me on at night. And don't get me wrong, i believe I have good social skills as I've had multiple self-respecting partners. I really want this torture to stop, I want to be in a group and don't want to off myself the moment I feel malicious intentions, I want to say a joke and not feel stared at as if I was an alien speaking a new language, I want to stop feeling threatened.