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Something’s not right

I don’t feel belonged

I don’t feel belonged

I just know that I don’t feel belonged in any social settings, like EVER.

Thats part of the reason why I chose to volunteer at my current fav role (kinda) on a fortnightly basis instead of weekly, but also why I don’t wanna look for any work because the coworkers side of things is the part that I care most about than the role itself, especially if the majority of the coworkers consist of the people around my age and are in the same generation as me. I get jealous when everyone else in my age group talk to each other but I’m the only one that isn’t part of any conversations with them.

Well today is the day I’m meant to go and volunteer there, but I’m not gonna go there anyway cause I’m already tired from heading out of home 4 days a week. Plus, also because of the other reason I mentioned above.

Actually, the other volunteer there that I was planning to work with for every shift now is actually not gonna be there today either from what she told me last fortnight. But yeah.

I know why I come off as unapproachable to many people, pretty much everyone. But at the same time, that’s not something that I can expect myself to change or that other people can expect me to change…because I’ve always been like this ever since I was in childcare… when

I just wish many people, especially the people in my generation (Gen

z) can accept that, but they don’t. They just all choose to avoid talking to me. I usually don’t talk to people first because that’s what I always do & im scared to do that.

137 replies

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In response to: I don’t feel belonged

Re: I don’t feel belonged

@rav3n yeah those places like the shopping malls, libraries, parks are the places that make me feel connected. And the gym too. There’s a gym in the accomodation luckily so I can always go to that one.

And yes for your last three questions about my roommate. That’s why for your first question, I just go down to the study room to be able to do my own uni stuff there instead of in my room.

Like I mentioned she’s chill and all, but I wish she was one of those people that really care about me at an emotional level & would have a much more understanding about me as a person in terms of my mental health and stuff… Also she’s the type of person that doesn’t really come to help you or doesn’t even ask you “do you need help?” when you’re struggling with something, unless you ask them to. Sadly almost everyone in this world aren’t like that and that’s what makes me sad.

In response to: Re: I don’t feel belonged

Re: I don’t feel belonged

oh yay those are some great places!! that's so good your campus has a gym you can access, guess cancelling your other gym membership shouldn't be too bad then @Blackcloud

ohhh i see, do you think with time this could change? i know personally i find it hard to show new people that i care (even though i really do), i just get shy or awkward or so stressed that i forget to even ask how others are. the worst part is people don't see how shy and nervous i am, they just think i'm being careless. sometimes it can take time to get comfortable enough to ask those questions. do you offer her help and emotional check-ins quite often, do you feel the care is one-sided?

i hear ya, if everyone was so openly caring, life would be sooooo much easier!! guess we're all brought up differently and view the meaning of 'care' in different ways as well. for me, those check-ins are such a big thing as well, but for others, like my mum, doing chores and cooking instead of verbally checking in are her ways of showing she 'cares'.

In response to: Re: I don’t feel belonged

Re: I don’t feel belonged

@rav3n oh I definitely feel that it’s one-sided. And no I don’t offer anyone help and emotion check-ins cause that depends if that person is my close friend I guess, well not that I have any close friends anyway but yea.

also, her and I just barely talk to each other so I don’t see how her and I are eventually gonna connect when our connection is just very much like that. But no really, my connection with everyone is very much like that though because like I said I’m not even the social type and just don’t want to be around people nor want other people to be around me or something.

Also, generally speaking, I don’t see how being completely honest as well as getting into arguments or something would help “build a friendship/relationship” as that’s not really how I myself see it as.

In response to: Re: I don’t feel belonged

Re: I don’t feel belonged

@Blackcloud hmm let me know if i'm right in interpreting this or not - seems like you're expecting your roommate to reach out and check-in with you but you're not willing to do it to them right as you don't consider them close?

there's no rule that you have to be best friends with your roommate, so definitely don't feel pressured to be 'besties'! one my friends has a roommate and they barely speak to each other. they might say good morning/good night but besides that, they barely know each other and they're both happy with that. they only talk to each other if they need anything from one another, or they may make some small talk but that's it!

being honest can actually prevent conflicts - if someone keeps doing something that bothers you and you don't open up about it, you tend to build resentment and want to escape right? but instead having that conversation and saying, 'I don't like when you do X because is makes me feel Y, do you mind doing Z instead or is there a compromise we can come up with?' can help solve it in a way that works for you both - plus that honesty and discussion is what helps you get to know each other better. i don't know about you, but being honest with my parents about these stuff didn't always go well and led to arguments- but remembering that my parents are not the same people as my roommate or my classmate or teacher or doctor, etc., made me realise the importance of trying to communicate honestly again. what are you're thoughts? (totally fine if you disagree with me)

In response to: Re: I don’t feel belonged

Re: I don’t feel belonged

@rav3n well cause since my roommate and I barely speak to each other, I dont see the point of checking up on her especially when none of us even got to know more about each other. I wouldn't check up on her unless I know if she also have some issues that she's dealing with too, and if her and I are close.

For your last paragraph, yeah I know that. But how I personally deal with these things is different from how a lot of other people deal with it, and I have had some people in the past being rude about it in response (instead of apologising and acknowledging what they did wrong) to when I was being honest to them about something too.

I understand about the resentment and wanting to escape part.

Another reason why I'd like to have a room of my own is also because then I'll be able to play some music or watch a YouTube video freely without even having to use headphones/earphones. Also so that I'll be able to do my uni assignments in my room instead of having to keep going down to the study area on a daily basis.

Oh and I forgot to mention that it's also because it just frustrates me/makes me uncomfy in general whenever I have someone else being in the same room as me.

In response to: Re: I don’t feel belonged

Re: I don’t feel belonged

@rav3n oh, and I don’t like how she keeps looking at me either, like….

In response to: Re: I don’t feel belonged

Re: I don’t feel belonged

@Blackcloud i see, i guess both your reactions and responses in this roommate situation is fair! totally fair that you don't feel the need to check-in with her since you're not close, you're definitely not obligated to anyways. if you were interested in being friends/getting to know her then i would've encouraged you to initiate more convo but now i see you're not interested in bonding with her and you really value your independence and personal space- which is also absolutely valid!

ooft yep i definitely relate to having people not acknowledge the fact that their in the wrong or apologise, it is hella frustrating!! what do you usually do in that sort of situation?

ohh the music stuff without headphones is so real!! surely you can do that in your current accommodation too? my friend used to blast her music and her roommate didn't mind... unless is your roommate strict about that stuff?

ahhh yep if you're overall just uncomfy and not able to be yourself, it makes total sense that you'd want your own accommodation. i'm wondering... do you find it easier being alone because communicating your needs to others perhaps is a bit overwhelming for you?

also just read your other post about the looking... hopefully its a nervous/awkward look rather than a creepy one... 👀

In response to: Re: I don’t feel belonged

Re: I don’t feel belonged

@rav3n I usually just try to like end/finish the convo or something if I get the feeling that the person is about to get heated & I do also apologise which I really wish I wouldn’t feel obligated to do tho 😭

And yes, usually it’s easier for me to be alone because it’s usually overwhelming for me to communicate my needs to others.

I mean, if she wanted to see what I’m doing or something I guess, then idk she should just not look at all and just..mind her own business..? I hate when people do that. It just makes me a bit uncomfy and also makes me anxious/nervous too.I’m about to leave the room and head into the study room now. But I think I might also go to the reception downstairs and ask them about my room allocation inquiry, as well as that form that one of them got me to fill in yesterday via email. Yes, I did contact them via email about this instead of actually going up to them face to face.

In response to: Re: I don’t feel belonged

Re: I don’t feel belonged

Also, I just spoke with the reception staff and he said that they have forwarded it to management, so they’re basically waiting for management to approve of my request. Alternatively, they said I can speak to the manager in person and they’d be available from 9am-5pm. But I’m just gonna wait first instead of doing the latter lol

In response to: Re: I don’t feel belonged

Re: I don’t feel belonged

@Blackcloud yep i asked because a lot of what you said reminded me of myself a couple years ago, i really struggled with talking with people (my social anxiety was VERY high back then and also i felt like i severely lacked social skills almost because of the way i was brought up, my parents didn't really encourage me to socialise + when i had opportunities to, they'd take it away).

do you tend to assume the other person's feelings/thoughts when talking to them too? like you feel like they might want the convo to end so you end it for them? or you feel they might be getting angry so you apologise before it even escalates?
you definitely don't owe them apology if you've done nothing wrong!!! i know it's tempting to say it so you de-escalate the situation, but its not fair on you!! if people get angry/mad, that's on them - we can't control how other people feel but we can control our own thoughts/feelings/actions. took me a long time to realise that if something i say makes someone angry, its not my responsibility to make them feel less angry, especially if all I've done is voice my needs or honest thoughts/feelings. hope you know that you deserve to have your voice heard too and you're not responsible for other people's emotions, that burden does not land on you!!

hmm yep that's interesting with the eye contact thing... i guess you could ask them about it but i'm guessing you'd much rather not 😆 hopefully she'll stop soon or you'll move out by then!

good to hear that you're requests been forwarded to management!! if they do take too long, its good you've got the option to contact them but fingers crossed they'll get back to you via email soon!!

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