Inate biological requirement for human contact

Thank you for taking the time to share and letting everyone know you don't want to be tagged into 'random' threads. Is it okay to tag you into this thread?

What would ideal support on the forums look like for you? @DogMan79?

Is there a specific type of science that interests you @DogMan79 ?

E.g. biology/plants/animals, physics, astronomy, chemistry (or things that go "boom" when mixed), geology?

I enjoy learning things, and science often fascinates me.

I can relate to the "no interests" difficulty. I wish I had interests in things that could then lead so social interactions that I dont find tedious.

Sometimes I enjoy boardgames/DnD, but often I'm too tired to want to think. I have another interest, but it is too niche to have a social group - i cant even enrol in learning courses because there is no where to do it. Other activities i do are just to pass time, not really for interest.

I'm curious what you mean by a "special interest of Therapy"? If you feel OK to explain.

I sometimes wonder if I have a "special interest" in psychology (how and why people think things) and in 'helping others' -- but I dont think other view these as "special interests" because i dont spend all my spare time studying it - just thinking about it which they cant see. 🤔

Im wondering if you mean something similar with your statement, or something completely different?

@AlwaysMyself yes, very similar. Psychology as a deep rabbit hole which fascinates me. And devoting to the stud thereof negatively impacts other domains by way of limiting my bandwidth for anything else

I had a group of friends in high school who were very into D&D. They wrongly assumed that I'd make a good DM, based on the fallacy that I was creative. But I actually have no mind's eye for the most part*

@tyme absolutely. Tag me in threads which I am already a part of, which I have joined of my own volition

*1 "Part-Self" does have a strong mind's eye. But Parts work is not for everyone and it can be niche

Ack, I hate friends/family making assumptions about my interests. Drives me nuts - why dont they just ask me instead??

In DnD I like the ability to think up unusual things to *throw off* our DM (but if I were DM, I'd do it to the players I'm sure). This is my first DnD game/group, and we are all new to it, and play soooo slowly (sometimes it drives me a little frustrated as to how slow), but over time they're getting a little faster.

Interesting to meet another person into psych/etc generally @DogMan79 😊. Although sorry to hear that the intense interest throws life out of balance a bit for you ☹️. I wonder if there are ways to integrate your interest in psychology into other daily/positive things? E.g. social contact - im happy to chat about what you learn or find interesting re: psych, if that helps also balance the social need? 😊

@DogMan79 Good to meet you. I identify with some of your statements, Eg, aspie, broad interests from sciences and humanities, schizophrenia in the family, whatever that diagnosis actually means. I have met some psychiatrists socially who admit they are uncertain what it means. I was pressured by my mother and life circumstances to do music. I also used to hate superficial socialising, and never wanted to do it, but trying to find a balance between being too deep and meaningful and utterly frivolous. Did a thesis on Creative Writing, researching while sitting in a medical library, so, despite all the poverty and trauma, I also am lucky….to have such a broad education and work history.

I was one who tagged you to the general social threads. Sorry.

I hear your sense of detachment about your well-being. I have also felt similarly, whilst still dutifully doing well being practices. A guy called Meister Eckhart wrote an interesting essay on Detachment. Its not all bad, even though there is all the talk around the negative symptoms in schizophrenia… flattened affect and low social engagement… is it worth bringing some psychology into social discussions… without getting too personal… might improve the general conversations. When I first went to university psychology was still fighting for recognition as a legit science. My English teacher at school said I would not like it cos it was about rats in mazes, rather than deeper human questions… so I didn’t do it… but glad I did study psychoanalysis and social theory.

hey @AlwaysMyself @tyme

@Appleblossom @AlwaysMyself

Thank you for commenting. I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself today

Sorry to hear its a rough day for you @DogMan79 . Just logged on again after going out, if you want to chat give me a tag. (I dont get email notifications anymore as they all go to Spam no matter how many times I mark them all as Not Spam, and add the address to my contact list. *sigh* )

Here for you, however you need me to show up to show support and care abd value for you.

Hey there

I'm noticing a few things about the words and phrasing you're using. It seems as though you like to use precise language, and that you don't use a very excited tone about socialising. Yet you talk about the inert biological requirement for and benefits of human relationships.

I'm wondering if you've given much thought to why you'd want to be around people? I think the flag capture sounds important to you, and could perhaps help you understand the things that you care about in relationships.

It's important that the people we're around feel accepted and respected by us. The opposite is also true; I don't spend much time around people who only like small talk, because it doesn't make me feel happy to just engage in small talk. So in order to respect others, I choose to socialise with people whose traits make me feel happy.

@DogMan79

Sorry you are having a s**t day. I still get them, had s**t decades, but somehow survived, and I eventually found a key was learning to laugh a bit at life, at things that were ironic, or ridiculous, or just weirdly tickled my funny bone. Just having little moments with random strangers began to help break down my isolation. And I volunteered at a zoo, and was a hellava lot closer to the animals than to people for a long while. I was attracted to the biological imperative of your post title.

I actually had a good day today, but am cautious about it. It’s fine for you to tag me if you want to “talk”.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lagT1jx3HnM

@DogMan79 not sure what you think of this approach