just thought id update you on the situation as it is. i got some help but not through one on one councelling as the school doesnt do that anymore. i found a social anxiety message board and im doing some cognative behavioural theropy to sort things out im my head. seems to have got the eye contact thing just about sorted i realised that obviously people wont want to really know me if i cant even make eye contact with them because itll just seem like an uphill struggle trying to squeeze conversation out of me so i needed to get this sorted before i start a relationship anyway but so far ive been generally more sociable, met some new people and im feeling a lot better about things. im just getting to know the guy i mentioned at the moment as a friend but im hoping he might notice the change in me. ive been making eye contact with him at least! so thats about it really. no more issues have come about and things look like theyre on the up! thanks again for the support