Discussion Is anybody socially isolated but not socially anxious?

[fatiguecentral]

I don't have social anxiety and have found success in forming relationships throughout my life.

However, I really enjoy and prefer being by myself, or among nature and animals. I spend many days at a time not interacting with anyone but I never feel lonely.

I have withdrawn a lot more since my mental spiral, but I feel quite happy on my own.

Is anyone else a socially competent yet extreme introvert/hermit like me?

 

[signifying nothing]

Yeah, I think I'm similar. I can do what I need to in order to get by day to day around and interacting with other people, but it takes a toll being around them for too long due to cptsd. It means that most of my interactions are with strangers and I am wary of making connections with people. All that means I am mostly alone, but I don't mind it as it's a lot less stressful for me.

 

[fatiguecentral]

@signifying nothing Thank you for your message. I also have cPTSD and I think it is also probably why I withdraw from people. I get stressed out when people want to bond closer with me. I relate to everything you've said.

 

[WornOutLife]

I love being alone too. I don't feel really lonely but...sometimes, I would like to have someone to hug while being in my bed.

 

[FuneralCry]

I can relate. I have always been introverted and find people generally exhausting. I always have a need to isolate myself after being around people for a certain amount of time. I wouldn't really say I'm socially anxious as I have had friends in the past but I just don't have the energy or interest and I never get lonely.

 

[poisonedminds]

Yes! I don't have social anxiety and I consider myself to be a healthy mix of introverted and extroverted.
The reason I'm so isolated is because of trust issues and fear of abandonment. I'm very good at small talk and making superficial friendships, but I seem to be incapable of forming meaningful bonds and deeper relationships.
I'm afraid of making myself vulnerable to a potential friend, so I avoid real friendships altogether.

 

[Callie Arcale]

I suffer from anxiety but not social anxiety. Up until a few years ago, before my health deteriorated really bad, I still had a somewhat active social life.

Now I am consumed and overwhelmed by my health issues to the point that I prefer to be alone. I have neither the will nor the interest to engage in social interactions. My life is over and I am watching the days go by until death claims me.

So I'm used to being lonely. Loneliness has almost become a... friend. I guess that's inevitable when you spend a lot of time by yourself: you end up allowing loneliness to keep you company.

 

[eternalmelancholy]

I suffer from anxiety but not social anxiety. Up until a few years ago, before my health deteriorated really bad, I still had a somewhat active social life.

Now I am consumed and overwhelmed by my health issues to the point that I prefer to be alone. I have neither the will nor the interest to engage in social interactions. My life is over and I am watching the days go by until death claims me.

So I'm used to being lonely. Loneliness has almost become a... friend. I guess that's inevitable when you spend a lot of time by yourself: you end up allowing loneliness to keep you company.

I could have wrote this myself. I have general anxiety and distrust of others due to years of abuse. I rather just be alone. My body has began to fall apart despite my young-ish age. So I cannot enjoy normal activities even if I wanted to. Not to mention the lack of money to even pursue these hobbies in the first place.

Just stuck in this limbo period before I ctb. Living sucks but dying is hard. There are no easy days.

 

[LastFlowers]

I would say I am socially competent but still socially anxious as well, and isolated.
I'm not naturally socially awkward, but because of my discomfort with my situation and the way society has treated me, I may come across that way.
I suspect I may have been more of an extrovert than I seem, if my life (and physical body) had played out differently.
But regardless, I believe I would still require a lot of time alone, I think we are most ourselves that way, our essence is mostly unadulterated when away from others, but if it's forced-with no way out, then it doesn't feel as freeing as it normally should feel.

 

[Stargazer100]

I'm not introverted nor axious, I want to be social. But I just don't connect with anyone over anything, so I barely meet new people and when it happens it's rarely someone who I connect with.