Social isolation questions

[ashdawn8287]

How many of you do this?

How long do you do it for?

How do you get yourself to get out of it?

It's lonely, it's sad, it's not productive, we all know better, but we manage to do it still. There has to be an easier way to battle the social isolation of this aspect. I have thought about joining a domestic abuse program at the YWCA, but I am scared.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I see social isolation as a big problem with people with PTSD. It can make future social interactions harder becasue you have fallen out of practice in terms of interacting with other people. This can make their symptoms worse and we all need some interaction with the outside world.

The YWCA is a good organization and I encourage to you to call them. That is the first step. Once you do that, you may find that future interactions will be easier. Hopefully that experience will be positive for you.

Wishing you the best.

 

[ashdawn8287]

Thank you for responding and giving me that extra push. I really appreciate it. I will call them tomorrow. The funny thing is I'm a waitress, I chose to do this job in order to get over it, before I even knew I had PTSD. Things have gotten easier since I started my job in November, but I'm ready to do more and yes I think the YWCA would be a good program. Thank you again.

 

[therapybankrupt]

Hi Ashdawn! I do isolation and I am sad to say it has not improved as of lately. The truth is the more I give into it the harder it is to move out of it. This is something I am struggling with at this time. I joined a exercise club and ran into a big trigger and quit there. I went to another club two weeks ago. I have yet to return. I do not really know why? I can have company from out of town and I can go to appointments. EMDR every week is on the list. I force myself to see my brother and his kids. I keep a neat house and do outside work when necessary. I shop for my needs. Its just easy to stay in my home the rest of the time.

I am starting to think I have become lazy. I can not get of the damn couch if I have nothing to do. I get so into the computer that before I know it the day is gone. I just have gotten used to this existence. It is sad. This is totally a different person than I used to be. To be honest it has been a progression of seven years. I know I feel fairly safe here. I do understand your thought process of fearing. Thats where I started with the isolation. I will be listening to get others take on this.

 

[stuff]

I definitely isolate, or sometimes I go into a weird destination pattern where I will only go certain places I feel safe, but I'm really lucky to have my dog. She's odd enough looking that people strike up conversations with my constantly. I would hide out, but I feel awful for not taking her for walks etc, so I never get too bad. It keeps me grounded. Spending a lot of time alone makes me worse. I know it deep down, so I try to fight it.

 

[ashdawn8287]

Hi therapybankrupt, I feel the same as you on the social isolation of this aspect. I'm wondering when I will get the hang of this. I do work as a waitress to push myself, but then all I want to do is get home and "hide." It takes a lot of energy out of me. I have been out of work for 2 weeks because of surgery. I know it will be rough going back next Sunday. I know I have struggled with PTSD since I can remember and I have only been recently correctly diagnosed finally. I'm hoping I can help others and this forum has been a miracle for me the last few days.

I feel I am on the computer so much since I discovered this site as well. It's my only comfort and makes me feel connected. I am going to try a couple other things and just keep trying even if I give up for a few weeks I don't think I will ever stop picking myself up. Pushing through this is really hard, but I realize pushing through is the only way in order to develop habits.

I want to start including different coping strategies in my life, everyday. I feel this will take a while before I do it everyday, but I am going to try.

 

[ashdawn8287]

My fiancee said tonight, "I think it is good your obsessed with healing because it will make you progress." I'm lucky I have him. Small steps are success for us. Being on this site is a victory for us. It's sad, but true. I try not to compare myself to others because well I am not like others. I have been through some really bad stuff and my body and mind will not let me forget that. All I can do is throw myself into healing and do it everyday.

Also, with EMDR therapy. I was suppose to start on Monday, but I was still recovering from surgery. I do Cognitive Behavioral Therapy now and have been for 2 years. I am making that a priority right now. I can't do all the stuff normal people do because my body and mind are on survival mode 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, it takes a lot of energy out. Being social is exhausting.

 

[therapybankrupt]

I don't think I will ever stop picking myself up. Pushing through this is really hard, but I realize pushing through is the only way in order to develop habits.

This is all you can expect of yourself. The fact you had surgery you need to realize you need the time to recover and heal your body. So just take it easy. I expect this recovery will be a prelude to the recovery for the EMDR you are going to do. My T told me to look at the sessions like surgery and give myself permission to take the time inbetween to recover. I have now taken it to the literal and I am recuperating lol!

 

[therapybankrupt]

I'm really lucky to have my dog.

Hi Stuff! Yes you are! Pets are so good for us with PSTD. I used to walk my dog everyday. He now has problems and walking seems to make him worse. I miss walking but will not go without him. I am glad your dog helps with the isolation!

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

I isolate all the time. Sometimes I tell myself I need to get up and get out and do something but I'm depressed too so that makes it hard to motivate myself. I also have chronic pain so that limits how active I can be too. But it's a cycle. I isolate and it makes me feel more depressed. And I get depressed from how much I isolate.

 

[InHell11]

I've always had trouble with social interaction so people thought I was 'weird' at an early age, I think the first reason I intentionally tried isolating was after having the impression no one liked me, though that wasn't exactly by choice more just trying to avoid people being jerks. Now though there ends up being more reasons, I am still usually afraid of people negatively judging me and then trying to get to me, a lot of times its that I don't have the energy to be around people or I don't want to snap at people and such if I am in a bad mood.

I have one friend I have not talked to in a while, and family which while I get along well with some people in it, hanging around family still isn't the same as having friends outside of that. Also over all they are not very understanding, even the ones I do get along with about what I actually struggle with. I also end up afraid to try and explain how the symptoms are interfering with my abilities because I am afraid of it being dismissed or being told how I'm being ridiculous in some way.

 

[Pencil]

Social isolation: big time! I'm not doing much, it's too stressful. I used to be extremely sociable, now I find that I have nothing to say to people, and I'm not interested in their petty struggles they consider major. I can't explain what I have to deal with on a daily basis, while I have to have empathy with them. It feels as if I sit with a broken leg and commiserate with them for their broken toes.

And I seem to have lost the capacity for joy and fun.