Solitude Taken Too Far
We all love some alone time. But there are times when it can be bad. There is a term for people who never go out and can’t really function in society in Japan called hikikomori—the Japanese recluse. It can be easy to slip into this. There are some signs to look out for yourself and others.
You do nothing new
Nothing wrong with having a favorite restaurant or having a routine (looking at Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory). But when you cannot or will not try anything new, that becomes a problem. Your mind and body needs a break from routine, some novelty. If it makes you feel bad then that can also be a sign that you need help with your mental health.
Nobody wants to talk to you or hang out with you
Yeah, I don’t always go out when invited. But I try to make sure I go out sometimes with people. It’s a compromise. Doing it over and over is rude. People will stop trying because you are not putting any effort into the relationship.
You feel like you are forced to be alone
Almost like you have no choice but that being alone is your default. No one to have coffee with, go see a movie, or even talk about your favorite thing.
You feel worse after being alone
This can be two different things. You are going through something that you actually need support for or you do not do anything worthwhile when you are alone. Both are not good. Our alone time is when we recharge. Where we can hear our own thoughts and relax.
You cannot emotionally regulate
If your emotions are all over the place that is an indication of something big. When you are with people you get snappy. When you are alone nothing seems to go right. This is where we are supposed to find balance in a loud, chaotic world. If you do not find any calm, ever, then it’s not going right.
These are just a few examples to look out for. If it seems like you are not getting the rest you need you need to dig deep to see what you are missing. Sometimes, shock, you need people. Whether its someone to talk something over or actually to get out of the house.