We live in highly unnatural times where people are more isolated than we used to be. It used to be that u had a group of people and lots of family, extended family, and u regularly were with this group of people most days if not everyday. Now more pple feel like they aren't sure they can support themselves now or in the future, it is more challenging for people to marry, let alone date. Social media increaes risk of suicide and yet here we are on this lol! Because u aren't getting actual human connection with both people or group of people physically present, it's through this device. We are not islands we need other people around us regularly for feedback and to help regulate ourselves to feel ok. Some pple need other pple more like extroverts but still. Everyone needs regular contact with others or u become weird and awkward. You don't learn social skills and u can forget them by being isolated all the time.
Yes, I agree with everything you said. I struggle with both being an introvert my whole life & it being almost painful and draining to be around other people for very long. I know it's not good to be alone as much as I am, and I do walk around talking to myself and my dead husband. To be fair, I've been talking to myself for as long as I can remember because, through most of my life, I've had no one else to talk to. And I talked to my husband when he was alive, but working in another state. He also admitted that he talked to me as well when would be driving to work or see something that made him think of me.
I'm told I was very talkative and inquisitive when I was very little and my mom was still alive. After she died when I was 3, the adults around me made it very clear that I was not to ask questions or make noise. It was made clear to me that my opinions and thoughts were not important. Therefore, I shut down. I stopped talking. Now I get shit from people for being so quiet. Yet, I never feel like people are really listening to me when I do speak, so why should I bother? People make jokes about how I hide in my house and never talk to anyone. But again, why should I?
Every once in a while, I do try to go out and socialize. I'm always quickly reminded of why I don't enjoy it. It's monotonous and boring. I'm not interested in what others are talking about usually. I have tried to steer the conversation to something more interesting to me, but I'm either ignored or made fun of. It's so difficult because I would like a "happy medium" where I have some contact with others, but still have plenty of time for myself. I just can't seem to strike the right balance.