I ended up a couple years ago in seclusion, in by bedroom, with a shot gun to provide me with immediate protection.....in my new home. I was being actively intimidated....so, chemistry had to quell and intimidation stop before I could start to think about community-getting out with folks.....felt scary....and I'd dissociate. I retired from teaching.....work was no better as I had a bully there.
When there appeared no more real threats, I started with doing things where I'd have a lot of control.
I started getting out and being alone. I'd go to the park or a museum and take photos, or go hiking. I also took a drawing class, because I wanted to draw better. I'd dissociate in art class, but it gave me practice on keeping one foot in reality and the other in my art world. Going back was desensitizing and helping me get control of the auto-dissociation that would enivitably start when there was more than one person in the room.
I talked with the instructor and let her know that I was "shy" and a bit anxious, so she worked with me and gave me more space.
I took a water aerobics class.....I could do that in my own space.....no talking to others....but each time I went, a little piece of the wall came down. Mindful practices helped. Then I volunteered to teach a new person, I knew how to do....play an instrument...and now we walk before our once a week lesson.
I was able to reintegrate with people doing something I was either already good at (no stress) or something I wanted to learn (stress, but the kind I needed to overcome to be good at something.) So, find something you enjoy doing, or would like to learn, and create an opportunity for yourself to do it regularly.....weekly. Hobbies are great self-esteem builders and they teach you that you have talents. In learning new things, I had something other than trauma to talk about.....something positive. Many people connect with others through a similar interest.
What things do you like to do, what are your talents, if you could learn one thing what would you study? Why?