How can I feel like I belong when I’m more intense than my friends?

[MissSunshine2]

I love my friends, but I have difficulty relating to some of them. I am very intelligent and intense and most of them are more laidback and casual. I feel for everything except casual catch ups, while I can trust them with secrets, very few of them actually understand what I’m going through when I have issues, whereas I have no trouble understanding theirs.

I’m not saying they’re selfish. They’re far from it. I just operate on a higher level of intensity and intelligence than most of them. Sometimes it gets uncomfortable for everyone and causes stress, even sometimes resentment on both sides.

Since I’ve made a few smarter friends and I’ve started seeing more of the world, I feel even more desperate to be around other more complex people; while not wanting to lose my current friends. How should I manage this?

[Tarifa]

Living everything intensely is not easy. It sucks when things get hard, because you feel twice the amount of pain. It's great when things go well, because you feel twice the amount of joy.

Your circle of friends will be small. Even smaller when you count the ones you can really trust. That makes them extra special and makes YOU special to them. Just hang in there and be yourself.

[Iron_Man]

Be yourself relax but try to fit in. Smile and laugh try not to be so serious and intense and try to agree with some of the things that they like and that way they will like you even better. You can also bring up some things that you like and hopefully they like it. 😊

[Iron_Man]

Thanks for the award, Miss Australia

[sage2021]

Just copy the way they are and you'll fit in better.

[Paige2006]

Try to get down to their level of intensity