Social Withdrawal Has Taken Over My Life

Dear @HMstill , Thank you for reaching out. We hope you feel supported as members share their experiences with you.

We hear how challenging things can be as you battle some big feels.

We'll see you around

I hear you @HMstill. withdrawing from people/social is not uncommon with depression, so you're not alone in experiencing it. I dont think less of someone if they dont have (or dont want sometimes!) friends or to be social. Im sorry you feel embarrassed by it.

Feelings overwhelmed is quite understandable - depression can be very overwhelming, and without support from others it can feel even more overwhelming. Im so glad you had the thought to search for support, found this forum and reached out! 🙂 I hope we can help give you support to help you feel less overwhelmed, and possibly even help you to find what works for you to help you feel less overwhelmed and cope with depression.

Reach out anytime.

@HMstill Good morning. Welcome to the forums. The way you are feeling is something I relate to.

From what I understand when we are depressed withdrawing socially is one of the things that can happen. For me the friends in my life didn’t seem to understand or want to and thought I could just snap out of it. I have a couple of friends who I message but due to negative responses from other people I don’t say much about how I am feeling. I get a sense no one wants to know. People I supported through hard times have not been there for me. I’m not sure if you’ve had the same experience?

At the same time due to feeling so awful you have no motivation to get out and do things. Just existing is hard let alone going to social things.

many of us are left alone which is really sad and hurtful. It’s not you doing anything wrong it’s others not being decent friends.

The place where I can have a chat and people are supportive is here. I’m hoping you will find it helpful too.

I am glad you posted. You are not alone in your experiences and how you feel.

@Cuddlebear are you sure you're not also me?? 😅 that is 100% my experience too, i felt like i was reading my own inner thoughts. You said it so well. ❤️ the power of knowing you're not alone. And the power of having some people who will listen without judgement because they want to - even though they dont have to, that's what I hope for here.

@AlwaysMyself We definately have some strong lived experiences that we share. More than that I think from what I’ve learned about you is that like me you genuinely want to support people. Not from any obligation to do so but rather because you are an empathetic and kind soul. That’s something very rare in this world on individualism and selfishness.

I am sorry though that you’ve had people around you that have made you feel alone and isolated or even judged right at the time when you need the complete opposite. I am however here for you because I care. Doesn’t matter I have not met you face to face.

That power of not being alone provides hope and a sense of worthiness too.

Ditto to you @Cuddlebear too.

And @HMstill i hope you also feel safe to join in this community and get the support, understanding and connection you also need for your wellbeing. We are here for you.

@HMstill We sure are here for you. You don’t have to go through how you feel alone. You can be yourself here, you can be honest and no one will judge you.

@AlwaysMyself Im so glad we’ve met here. It’s feels so good making a friend.

Hello,

Firstly I want to say sending hugs to you. I know how you feel, reading your post I can resonate a lot with your circumstances. I don’t have too much advice, but thought I’d drop a message to say you’re not alone in terms of having others out there who do resonate with how you feel, and understand what it’s like.

There may be a difference with what I’m understanding your post is saying, is that you’ve withdrawn socially.

Regardless I know what it feels like to be alone. I live alone, have no family, and not many friends, my only friends live out of state so I don’t see them and barely speak to them as they’re busy with their lives.

I go to work in a customer facing role, and put on a mask every day like I am ok (because I have to be). I then go home to be alone, and in the weekends spend the entire weekend alone trying to find ways to pass the time. I actually don’t mind work because it’s the only time I feel somewhat normal and connected to people.

Sometimes it’s so boring in the weekends I am counting down and looking forward to bed time, so the day can be over already.

It is isolating at times.

I try to remember the benefits of being alone though, having my safe space. Using this time to focus on healing my self, and embracing the stillness that contributes to a calm nervous system.

Hope you can find a funny movie to watch, or something to lighten the mood.

@HMstill

welcome to the forum

I have had a lot of social isolation and withdrawal

I have also masked a lot

apple 🍎