Wow, this one cut close to the bone. I'm only slightly different: I don't have too much trouble being vulnerable, and maybe as a result, I have a number of friends that are closer than acquaintances, but I'm terrible at maintaining them. My long-time friends are all either people who can go a long time without connecting and still feel close, or they're the ones who are good about reaching out.

But all the stuff about being overly independent at an early age, preferring to just do things myself rather than ask for help, etc.: that's all spot-on. I'm old - not sure how realistic it is for me to change something so fundamentally me.