Need to walk a fine line with that

You have to practice to make friends, but dont force it. Try to make some short conversations, and then leave, "because you have something else to do". Everything will be fine.

Getting awareness of the reasons you use poker as an escape is the first step in improving your situation. From your short description it sounds like you might have some form of social anxiety and I encourage you to try to learn more about it and see if you recognize some behaviour. It's very common to have it in some form like stage fright, perfectionism or shyness.

recognizing there's something bothering you is a good first step, now try to found what it is, self-examination can be a reason to feel anxious sometimes so the help of someone professional would almost always be the fastest way to do it! Also I coulnd't stress the help meditation is enough to whatever mental misstep one may have, I liked the book "Mindsight" by Dan Seigel a lot I think it may help whoever to at least recongnizing what to do to feel integrated :)

I sometimes have the "problem" that all I really want to do is play poker. So after my 9-5 job I tend to cancel invites by friends just to play poker. It has left me a bit more isolated than I would hope for. Feel that you might have made similar choices along the way which has left you a bit too isolated as well. What helped/helps me is to schedule my sessions. So I usually plan one or two sessions after work (usually on Monday and Thursday, but also depends on the weather) and keep my other evenings free so that I can partake in activities with friends or try to get something going with friends. It also helps my game a lot because I know I only have these two sessions, so I tend not to get too distracted during those sessions and play my A-game.

Would probably help if you have someone around you that you can talk to about this and confide in. GL mate!

Brutal truth: Quit or learn to win.

Mid-life crisis lol?

Dude always have a plan not only in poker but in life in general... so many things in poker can be applied to how to live ur life in a +EV way cheesy ik (well maybe i see it that way thru poker).

Not trying to be an asshole or anything or saying this is u OP but... guys that just "go with the flo" and lack certain goals/lack passion and are working some min wage job waiting for an opportunity out of nowhere are just doing it wrong... Why?
Because even a 19 year old kid like myself who has no idea what the fk he is doing knows that you can't yolo life w/o a decent plan or at least taking action (it doesn't have to be the go to uni get a degree get a 9-5 job etc... and there is nothing wrong with stable income) + unfortunately you need $$$ to do things in life as well

Also maybe poker (full/part-time) isn't for you or you pursued it for the wrong reasons? You said you've played for 10 years and it seems to be just another "gambling" game/hobby to you, if you wanted to improve and get better u wud've done it way before 10 years had passed... It is what it is sometimes GL

Honestly I would seek the help of a mental health professional to discuss your problems

get a dog :-)

Drop down in stakes. Also seeking professional help is nothing to be ashamed of in 2016. Good luck.

Yup...I have similar problems man....professional help has really helped me not kill myself as my social problems were severly bad growing up and in college ( I basically never left my apartment and that was in college).

You can do it man! 1 day at a time...maybe find some local home games and just have fun with poker.