I think being a bit guarded might be NORMAL, think about it. When you were first introduced to a Witness in the congregation you had this weird thought that everyone was best friends right away. You had this thought that you could TRUST anyone in the kingdom hall, that all witnesses were the most loyal, the most honest, the most trustworthy. After all they were being led and had the blessing of Jehovah God.
You were also ingrained to believe that all worldly people had disapproval from God, which means they were with Satan. There was no fence, no grey areas... you were either IN or OUT.
So, after a while you start realizing that the Witnesses in the hall aren't your best friends, some of them are immoral, dishonest, untrustworthy, and you really don't share common interests, you don't have any fun with them, in fact the only common interest between you is that you are in the same location on Tues, Thurs and Sundays. After leaving you might realize there are GOOD people out in the "world" and you are sooo conflicted, it goes against what you were taught.
It just takes time to get to the point where you judge and evaluate people on a case by case basis. To connect with others. To make friends, and to be a friend. It is hard at times, I made a lot of my best friends through a book club, I have other friends that I have met from my husbands job. BUT the thing is, you don't connect with everyone in life, that is a falacy. Witnesses make it so cultish when they say that Jehovah's organization is one big happy family. That is bullcrap. I was there, when my mom got sick there was no one around to help me, to support us, to even bring a casserole over. But in my new and improved life if I tell someone something bad is going on, I find a card in the mailbox a few days later.
It's all about adjusting your thinking in your brain, the feelings in your heart will follow in time. You will get there.