[Meta]

I would say that most of the best days of my life were spent at home alone watching TV. If I was given the choice I would choose to do this for the rest of my life. Anyone else feel like this? Anyone have a reason besides my ongoing anxiety and depression that I feel this way? It's not that I don't get bored at home sometimes, but that boredom is infinitely preferable to the stress I feel out in the world

Meta

[snowflakes]

Originally Posted by Meta

I would say that most of the best days of my life were spent at home alone watching TV. If I was given the choice I would choose to do this for the rest of my life. Anyone else feel like this? Anyone have a reason besides my ongoing anxiety and depression that I feel this way? It's not that I don't get bored at home sometimes, but that boredom is infinitely preferable to the stress I feel out in the world

Meta

Hey Meta! Goodday! I dont think that is pathetic in a sense. I can say though that it is somewhat a form of defense mechanism. You tend to isolate yourself which I thought is not that bad nor good. It is normal for us to isolate ourselves sometimes because of the stress or the situation we are in because we try to somehow ease our feelings and thinks things over. It is not bad if we did not make it a habit of isolating ourselves. Moreso, it is becoming bad if it became habitual that we tend to forget all the things around us and we refuse to recognize those persons who are dear to us. As for me Meta, try not boredom overcome you. Go out! Sometimes, experiencing the things which we are afraid of makes it more fulfilling to live. Get on! and keepsafe!

[BeaconBright]

TV can be very comforting and soothing. It is isolating, but sometimes we get from TV characters what we can't get from people in real life. It is like an alternate universe in to which we can either escape or envelop ourselves. Like almost anything, if it isn't an addiction or obsession, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. 1) It is not pathetic. 2) Sometimes whatever gets you through the day, and works, is the best possible medicine. 3) I often feel the same way. So you are not alone at all.

[pachyderm]

I don't find most of the stuff that's on TV to be very encouraging either!

I think it just might be another tool to numb you like other people would use alcohol or drugs or overeating or sleeping all the time. You may just not have good coping skills to deal with life & need to get some help with that. At least I do. I'm getting help in that regard with dialectical behavioral therapy group classes. It is helping me immensely. I had lousy coping skills--to the point of overdosing when I was feeling overwhelmed with hurt. I've got to do better than that! But I do use other behaviors to "numb me out" that are destructive to me so I'm learning better things to do.--Suzy

[Christine1123]

Originally Posted by Meta

I would say that most of the best days of my life were spent at home alone watching TV. If I was given the choice I would choose to do this for the rest of my life. Anyone else feel like this? Anyone have a reason besides my ongoing anxiety and depression that I feel this way? It's not that I don't get bored at home sometimes, but that boredom is infinitely preferable to the stress I feel out in the world

Meta

I can relate to that feeling. It just feels safer to be inside occupying yourself with television than to go out and deal with other people. However, staying inside and watching tv doesn't help you get better. Do you have anyone that you can talk to about your depression and anxiety?

[madisgram]

for me it's an unknown fear of what's out "there". the more i stay inside the worse my fears become. it's a bad cycle for me to get caught up in.
what was suggested to me in therapy to overcome this is to gradually go out...like to places i feel safe, in my case, barnes and noble. like places that don't have a lot of stimuli...walmart would freak me out when i allow myself too much staying inside. gradually i''m not as afraid if i take baby steps. i still isolate sometimes but i give myself the pleasure of that for a defined number of days. then i make myself go out cause in the long run i know it is healthier for me to do so, jme.
since the stress in the outside world bothers you perhaps the "safe place" concept would work for you too.
another thought on this for me is that i have this life to live only once. i don't want to put too many walls up cause then i would be missing out of the good things i can find in my world.
try to allow yourself some risk taking. safe risk taking.
do you talk about this with your pdoc or t? they may have some good suggestions.

[Perna]

One thing I found in half a lifetime of pulling back inside, you have to keep pulling further back and there's only so far you can go; trust me, being stuck in the inside of your head doesn't feel quite so safe and comfortable.

The more space you make "around you" that is safe (and I'm way out on the plains beyond my castle walls now :-) the more there is to do and the happier you will be and, oddly enough, safer you'll feel.

I would find a good therapist to start "exploring" with.

[jennrachael05]

I do this too. I spend about half my day messing around on the internet and half the day watching t.v. I leave my house occasionally to go on a date with someone I met online or go to church.

Not pathetic at all!

Some people are naturally introverted, meaning they arent particularly outgoing. It only becomes a problem if you develop anxiety when you need to get something done because you dont want to leave the house.

[dcandy]

Hi Meta,

I feel the same way too. I am really uncomfortable in social situations and find that relaxing at home in front of the TV is comforting to me.