Your words have really spoken to me. I have found myself with no close friends, I am an overly defensive person but try very hard to be nice and put others first, show an interest etc. None of this works, however the defensive prickly personality isnt me. It is like a skin I put on many years ago that I cant seem to shrug off. It makes me intensely uncomfortable and I am aware it affects how I interact with people. Maybe others are picking up on this disingenuous’ of self……