When I was 20 I ended up hospitalized with severe depression. When I got out I decided to run. I packed my stuff up and moved to another city. I changes my number and stopped talking to everyone I knew. Dropped off the face of the earth as far as they were concerned. I found an apartment, a new job and made new friends. It was so freeing to start again.

I did return home eventually. Yes I had hurt some feelings, but they understood that I did what I needed to do. I have very fond memories of that experience and if I didn't have kids I would probably have done it again by now.

I have no idea if this helps, but I do kind of get it.