When you are having a difficult time, when you are hurting so so much,

Do you isolate yourself?
or
Do you try to talk about it?

I isolate. What do you do?

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[Perzephone]

I become even more reclusive than normal, and I get angry when people ask me "What's wrong? Do you want to talk about it?"

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((((((Time0)))))))))

[kimmydawn]

I isolate more...withdraw. In fact, those close to me have learned that and work really hard at trying to pull me out. It's helped alot knowing that they understand and aren't judging.

(((((((((((((((((((((time0))))))))))))))))))))))))

kd

[dexter]

If it is depression, I isolate myself. If I am having a difficult time coping with something and I am not in a depressive state, I seek out people. That is what I always used to do before depression hit me.

Now that I suffer from depression it is very very hard to make contact, but I try to force myself to do so because I know that isolation is unhealthy. Even when I do manage, it is not the same kind of naturally flowing talk I used to be able to have, very forced and mostly evasive.

[h0kie]

I hold everything in. Everything. Can't let others see how much "power" to hurt they have. Must hide that. Can't show weakness.

However, hubby has figured this out and bugs me until I at least level with him. Since I know he's doing it because he cares, it makes it more tolerable. It's getting easier to open up to him, but I have to fight my instincts to withdraw into myself.

[Azalysa]

I go into isolation. I go to work, come home, go *straight* to bed (no dinner); get up, do it again. All phone calls are screened. No desire to go even to the places I would normally love.

My mother is my primary support so I am very open and talk daily with her.

{{{{{{{{time0}}}}}}}

[jmo531]

Isolation....definitly. I have gotten worse over the years. I guess, I have always been afraid to let people in. I always feel like I dont want to "burdon" anyone with my problems.

I think it is interesting how we all Isolate. Hmmmmm

[ozzie]

I often take a brief period of isolating myself and then start talking about it with a therapist or other trusted person.

[quality_worms]

I isolate, and I'm not sure that I even want anyone to try to pull me out of it. Even though I know that it just makes me feel worse. This is what I'm doing in real life right now...people probably think I hate them.

(((((everyone)))))

I try to talk but not f2f. I talk on the net or on the phone. in 3D I isolate.
Confusing, huh?

C

i stay away from everybody, i thought i was ready to come back to the site, but i'm not

[Azalysa]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
I try to talk but not f2f. I talk on the net or on the phone. in 3D I isolate.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Excellent distinction, Caroline!

I was mainly thinking 3D in my prior post but ~yes~!! I communicate and spend even more time online. For some reason that doesn't seem as difficult. Perhaps because I don't have to go through the effort of showering/dressing/makeup which just totally exhausts me but yet can still be "in the world" so to speak.

Hmmmm...you gave me some good food for thought there...thank you!!

[Fuzzybear]

ugh, I wish I had a mother

whine
Fuzzy

[JustBen]

I tend to isolate even though I know I shouldn't.

just keep it all in my own head and isolate myself...know this is not good..but sharing makes me too vulnerable..have revealed things and been really judged or hurt...know I shouldn't go it alone, but for me that is safe, though painful...

[Fuzzybear]

I totally relate to that grrrrrrr

[JustBen]

I think maybe I underestimate what I can handle at those times. I think, "I know I should talk this out, but I just can't deal with it right now." In actuality, though, that's just the depression talking and the only reason I don't think I have the energy to deal with it is because I told myself I don't.

[tamzinrose]

I shut off from the world...go right into myself. It's most obvious and breaktimes and lunchtimes when I'm with my friends and I'll just get up, walk off and sit down again away from them. Mostly they leave me alone because they get that I need space sometimes, and I usually come back to join them after a little while anyway...friends are the best people.

((((((((mellors)))))))))

ty Azalysa

Yes, I'm thinking on it too. MAybe it is easier because I don't have to interact with people online every day. If I make a total mess of communicating I can just stay away.

C

[Azalysa]

{{{{{{{{Fuzzy}}}}}}}

It is interesting to see how we all isolate. Some more then others but we all have a tendency to do so.

I wonder if people without mental illnesses ( I don't like to call them normal because I don't think they are. They are even strange! Shhhhhhhh! Don't tell this to Dr. ) isolate when they are hurt or having a difficult time? Or do they just go ahead, fix whatever problem they have and then move on? Confront or talk to the person or deal with situation head on?



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[dexter]

I think a lot of people tend to keep their problems to themselves but I don't think that is the same thing as "isolating" the way that we do when we are depressed. People may keep to themselves because they are embarrased or just think it isn't "being strong" to share their problems or whatever... but isolation goes further... we believe that others don't want to help, that we are not worthy of their help, that people don't want to be around us... That is all part of what makes "depression", well, depression... and not just "feeling sad" like so many people mistakenly think it to be.

You are right, isolating is really not the same. Isolating is everything you said and more. It sometime can become dangerous to ourself. It is really not something we should do. But even if I know this, I fall in it. I must be careful with this one. All the time.

I'm lucky I have all of you! Really lucky!

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