Posted by Justherself54 on March 2, 2010, at 9:32:58
In reply to Staying Isolated, what's this a sign of?, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on February 28, 2010, at 19:31:12
I would say it's untreated depression and anxiety. I am a self-isolator. My home is my haven..and it's very unhealthy. However, it does have its perks, as I've learned to put boundaries up with family and friends who don't understand.
The friends and family who have educated themselves are a support to me. In fact, I'm away staying with one who literally said "get your chain-smoking butt up here and I don't care if your dog sheds all over my house. You can't be by yourself right now." And she was right. I'm not doing well right now..I would be doing much worse if I were alone.
I resist being around people, yet I always feel better after healthy social contact.
RJ, if you have any means possible of getting into your own place, do it. That may seem like a huge step, but it may well be one of the healthiest steps you can take.
The next step is to let the friends and family who do understand or at least have educated themselves as to what your illness is all about, be a means of support. They are often the ones who know how sick you are getting before you do and the ones who see improvement when you don't.
I don't think we, as humans, are hard-wired to be alone. Yet it's a daily fight..I still want to be home alone. But home alone means I ruminate and worry without interruption. As much as I've left my safe haven, kicking and screaming, I've also realized that I can have moments of pleasure that being with others brings. This gives me hope, which keeps me going.
Right now your room is your safe haven, but one of the major stresses in your life is just a few steps from your bedroom door. You need a safe haven you can call your own and start from there, with small steps to integrate healthy supportive social contact into your life.
Sorry to ramble..haven't finished my morning coffee yet, so still foggy headed. Take care.
poster:Justherself54
thread:938235
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100216/msgs/938347.html