Meet the 35-year-old virgin who has never been kissed because she picks nights in with cake over socialising.<br /><br />Anya Panchal, 35, has spent most of her adulthood alone and considers herself ''left on the shelf''.<br /><br />Despite wanting to meet a partner, she has never been on a date and chooses to eat pudding at home over going to the pub.<br /><br />She suffers from social anxiety and admits she only started to make friends aged 22.<br /><br />Coupled with this, childhood bullying left her too shy to speak to men and Anya says she finds gatherings ''terrifying''.<br /><br />Anya is now trying to overcome her social anxieties so she can eventually have her first kiss, form a romantic relationship and lose her virginity.<br /><br />Anya, who used to work helping kids get to school but is currently unemployed, from Ilford, Essex, said: "I've never had the confidence to even speak to a man, let alone go out on a date - I wouldn't know what to say.<br /><br />"All my friends are married with kids, and it makes me feel like I'm living in their shadows.<br /><br />"I've never had a romantic kiss that they show in movies.<br /><br />''It feels strange to still be a virgin at my age.<br /><br />"My parents have been married for 40 years they only want to see me happy but with the right person.<br /><br />"I want a connection with someone more than the physical side of things but in order to get that, you have to date and the thought of talking to a man gives me anxiety.<br /><br />"I'm scared that I'll get to a certain age and regret not trying to find anyone, but I'd rather spend my Saturday night at home then out drinking.''<br /><br />Anya's troubles started aged 16 when she battled depression and crippling social anxiety throughout her school years.<br /><br />She began to isolate herself at home - where she still lives with her parents - and admits to missing out on ''core teenage years''.<br /><br />After suffering a breakdown in 2010, Anya was determined to turn her social life around started making friends aged of 22 - through a Facebook group for ''fellow loners''.<br /><br />''When I finally made friends, it was amazing, I was able to start going out and getting my nails done with them and go to the cinema,'' she said.<br /><br />''I even started trying the dating apps, but it seemed like the men on there were only looking for sex and it really put me off.<br /><br />''I haven't dated online since.''<br /><br />Despite dubbing herself a ''hopeless romantic'', Anya is still terrified at the idea of speaking to or dating a man.<br /><br />She said: ''I know I need to change my ways, or I'll never fully experience life.<br /><br />"I feel like I'd like to meet someone because I don't want to be in my 70s with a load of regrets.<br /><br />"I was a recluse for six years and it's only since 2010 that I've had friends, but naturally they've all gotten married and started a family of their own.<br /><br />"Don't get me wrong, they're amazing friends but I do feel like there is a part of me missing without a partner.<br /><br />"In order to get a partner, you have to go on dates and the thought of it fills me with dread.<br /><br />"Because I'm not in the dating pool, I don't know how to even go about it.<br /><br />"The thought of being physical with a man makes my stomach flip because I wouldn't even know where to start.<br /><br />"I'm totally inexperienced with men but I do know I want someone kind with a good personality, who loves to take long walks in the park and with a bit of money.<br /><br />"Above all, I want an emotional connection with someone because that's the most important thing - or so I've been told."
