Reclusive-Hermitude-age

I think it depends on why you're cocooning as to the good/bad thing. I spend a lot more time alone these days because I'm trying to avoid alcohol/drugs/completely-wasting-another-two-years-of-my-life/getting-sick-again. And I have a job that's all people much older than I am, and gives me very little free time between work, school and laundry/repairs/moving/etc.. So I think that I'm more of a hermit these days for good reasons.

If I was doing it because I'm scared of people or something, that's bad.

I think I got this link off an ILE thread but I can't seem to find it

I fear I may have to do this very soon, or else die at an unfeasibly early age. The older I get the harder I find it to cope with being social, especially when I have a partner, which makes it far too easy to stay home with them, having the support and love and not having to go out and get it/give it with friends. Terribly selfish, I guess. I've always been an isolated type though. Being social really does feel like an actual, draining effort for me much of the time, and for it not to be, I have to get drunk and smoke like a fish (and lie like a kite? heh).

Eh. I'm sleep-depped today, and horribly paranoid and depressed as a result of a nasty panic attack last night at 3am, so my thoughts may be a little more extreme and morose than at other times.

That's pretty much it for me, too.

Haha, took the test again and I'm an INTP!

*shrug* I suppose most of the world would find it strange that I could be this complete social butterfly when in the company of those I know or know well but will automatically retreat back into my shell in other situations, but you guys seem to be the type who would be able to understand. Like, I can spill things to you guys that I would never even dream of spilling to even RL acquaintances. And I do enjoy certain activities (hell, in HS I was totally known as a joiner!), but at the same time I'm not the type to go clubbing or go out to bars. I love being home too much.

Still, I think I would suffer if I completely cut myself off from people. I need people too much, so the struggle between this need and my inner fortress-like nature is a never-ending one.

Anyway, I find being around people an emotionally draining prospect. It isn't that I don't like them, it's that they wear me out. (This is something I've argued with Glenn and David, in that I can be extrememly social and usually end-up being close to the center of attention at gatherings, even though I situate myself on the edge of things. They both tell me that I am social, because they perceive me as being liked and being comfortable interacting. They don't know how relieved I am when I get home and go into my room and shut the door and not have to talk to anyone. I can be social, but that doesn't mean that I like to be so.)

My ideal situation would be to live in a house by myself, but to have those few that I like to spend time with (albeit not 24/7) living close by, so we can see each other as we desire and yet still have our own places and space that is our own and that we do not have to share (which is kind of how I am living now).

My mother is also fairly anti-social. Her attitue is that she prefers the company of herself to that of other people. And so, she'd rather be along then to have to spend time with those that do not thrill her. That doesn't mean that she doesn't care for people (in fact, she is quite socially conscious and works for various human-rights organizations), but that she doesn't want to be constantly around them.

Hey, I've found my motto!