Prolonged Social Isolation

*This topic could possibly be better fitted for a different category so please feel free to guide me elsewhere if this is not the place for this discussion. *

Social isolation is something a lot of people had a taste of in 2020 due to the global pandemic we’ve been facing throughout the year. For me though, I’ve been in almost complete social isolation for much longer than that. If I had to guess I’d say I’ve been keeping to my room for a good three years now with very little time outside doing other things. Realistically this has been going on for more like 6 years but those first three years I was an introverted individual but still would go out if given the opportunity. This year I’ve made some small attempts to break out of this way of life a few times. I tried online dating during the summer to hopefully meet someone but I ended up dropping out of contact with newly made friends and potential romantic partners due to my situation. Despite worries of catching the coronavirus I tried making a habit of going to the park to play basketball every other morning. That actually went pretty well and people were friendly towards me but I stopped going after a while. Now, I’m even more alone than I was before and I feel that with each passing day I’m becoming more estranged from what it means to be human. My mental state is deteriorating and simple things about the world I never used to worry about much frighten me. I’m always on guard when in public as if I’m going to be attacked and will need to defend myself and others. My sister thinks I just need to re-integrate into society and that I will readjust with time. I’m not too sure about that. I feel like my mind has been rewired completely when it comes to handling simple day to day interactions. It can’t be normal to be this on edge around other people and to avoid social situations completely if possible.

I have been grappling with all this, of course, on my own for months now and figured I’d see if there was anyone else out there that deals with similar feelings that I do regarding social isolation and loneliness. Or if anyone has any input on what someone like me might do to successfully break out of this unhealthy lifestyle that’s welcomed as well.

Thanks for reading.

i can relate, my Friend, so i definitely hear you. Strangely enough i don't even mind the social isolation all that much, in fact i may even enjoy it, and i feel terribly guilty because of that! i don't have a lot of advice unfortunately other than suggesting you to take small steps and to start with something simple as going out for a walk or other social interactions where you don't have to interact too much as well as perhaps going out together with people you know well and whom you trust. Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @ChrizBolez, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

Maybe you could give it a go to the subforum about anxiety, especially the one about social anxiety.

Do you have any possibility to talk to a therapist about this? It’s important to know why you decided to isolate yourself to begin to work on this.

You are trying to defend yourself from something, but what and at what cost? Because in my case, it meant...and I talk in past because I’m old, in my case took me to a lack of learning social abilities so much that I became a person who is afraid of any social relations.

You have to know what placed you in this position.