Isolation/Social Withdrawal
Hi there everyone!
I'm interested in starting a conversation about isolation and social withdrawal with anyone who is comfortable sharing.
I'd like to hear your thoughts and experiences regarding this aspect of depression, hopefully to create a sense of peace for one another that we are not alone in how depression affects us and our relationships.
How does isolation and withdrawal manifest in your life or look for you individually? Why do you think you isolate yourself? What is the affect that isolation/withdrawal has on you and your condition?
I will begin by sharing how isolation and withdrawal looks in my life because of my depression...
I'm making my world smaller and smaller. I used to meet friends and relatives, although I was much more depressed. Nowadays I don't keep in touch with friends and I don't visit relatives at all anymore. We just make phone calls and send messages. I feel rather fine. It's much easier this way. No surprises and stress, but on the other hand I feel I'm passing my life without living. Letting my fears and social anxiety rule mylife rather than love, and well this feels a little like I was burying myself alive. But it's so calm and easy like this.
Sometimes I get so much energy and became very happy if I have positive interaction with somebody, and I think we should meet more often. But then if I meet people and something unpleasant happens, it takes much too long to get over. I try to let it go and talk sense to my self and see the incident in the right way but it means battle against depression. I feel I should have a mental armor when dealing with people. It easier to abandon the good dealings (especially as somehow even happiness feels too strong and wearing) in fear of bad ones. But then life is easy but lacks of taste and it's standing still.
Isolation and withdrawal means for me not going out of the house and not actively talking to anyone, whether that be online or with family in real life.
In general being isolated makes my depression worse, however, after doing a lot of activities sometimes I need to isolate myself for a limited amount of time to recharge my batteries
The reason why I isolate myself is because I always feel like a bother to everyone. I can even see the annoyance on people's faces when I talk to me. Reality has showed me that no one wants me and that continues to happen again and again. My low self-esteem is not because of my faulty thinking, it's because everyone throughout my life has proved to me that I'm not likeable or wanted anywhere, and I agree with them a 100%. I really don't like myself and I feel so much shame so I don't want anyone to even know that I exist. I seem to bother others just by being there.
@compassionateGrapefruit9565 Maybe if I may say, and I wish I could say it with the most loving way, and absolutely knowing it is easy to say and hard to live and do, well to the point...maybe you just think people don't like you because you believe in it. Maybe you believe it so strongly, that you don't see the things that prove otherwise, and there might be people who think you are great, if you thougt it would be possible. Of course I don't know you and people around you but at least it might be so.
My isolation has taken on a new flavor lately. I am usually the one that makes plans on Friday night. I'm the one that gets the girls together to go to our favorite bar. But these last two weeks I've still been the one that makes shit happen I just end up getting to wherever we are going and not wanting to talk to anyone. Which is unusual for me in these environments because typically I'm making friends with everyone.
Sometimes i I see my depression as a response to a certain habit or lifestyle or experience being harmful to me so my mind and body respond by being depressed in order to pull me into protect mode to keep safe. I feel like my isolation is similar. I don't trust people right now and feel that I have to be on guard. So I isolate. To protect myself from the majority of untrustworthy people. Sometimes it's just probably a bit extreme.
I know I'm going through a depressive episode and that I'm not myself right now. I feel like I'm "under maintainence" and am too embarrassed to participate in social activities. I feel like everyone will notice that I'm depressed and I'll get there and just want to go home. I'm so sleepy all of the time anyways so it's better for me to stay in where there's no pressure.
I have completely stopped going out with people and doing things outside of school. Depression has made me so lethargic and it is so hard to even leave my bedroom every day. I always just want to sleep and not think. All of my old friends have moved on and they are being social and going to dances and such. I have refused to go to such gatherings so now no one bothers to invite me to anything. I asked for this but I still feel lonely sometimes. It feels like I've completely lost the ability to connect with others on a meaningful level. Does anyone else feel similarly?
I'm the same way. I've spent most of my time wallowing in misery by myself up in my room because in a 26 year old loser who will never find success or happiness. I guess I do this because when I'm by myself I can't let anyone else down or upset them. I just dont know what to do anymore.
@southjerseysteve sorry u feel like this, i understand I have been isolating, i think it is a coping mechanism yeah
I haven't been out for 10 days now, got myself in a bad way sleeping in the day, it's horrible!!!!
I'm finding it hard to face reality, it's easier to hide away from the stress.
But I know it's not good for just become so lazy!!! As I'm not working
