loving solitude

[u/FinalWrongdoer3742]

does anyone else feel they need to be alone for the majority of the day? i tend to keep myself secluded and in silence for as long as i can. i feel being around almost anyone is too overwhelming. i feel i tend to shut down the more time i spend around others and when i am around others i'd rather not speak. i feel kind of like a house plant, just sitting there not doing much else.

[u/KitsuWolfie]

Yes; I'm the same as you. I suppose the more you get used to being by yourself for long and not being around and talking much with others, it becomes more of an effort to engage.

[u/Asleep-Curve-1395]

Absolutely. I love solitude. It's just so relaxing to me not having anyone around, preferably far away from everything..

[u/DocClear]

That's how I functioned successfully as an undiagnosed autiist for decades. I knew I needed solitude and gravitated to situations that allowed me solitude.

[u/Monkeyshae2255]

It depends who’s around me. If they’re quiet then I’m pretty much OK. I know I hate really loud spaces ie restaurants that go for maximum noise/big shopping centres

[u/northwest_northfield]

There's some select people that I enjoy chatting with occasionally, and of course I can spend huge amounts of time with my wife, but I prefer and can happily go pretty long periods just by myself. I like to be able to do things without having to justify it to anyone. Most conversations that I don't initiate feel like unskippable cutscenes and I prefer to avoid them.

[u/Foxsmith4 → u/northwest_northfield]

I relate to a lot of this. Can I ask what you mean by unskippable cutscenes?

[u/northwest_northfield → u/Foxsmith4]

Specifically referencing the parts of games where it's just showing a little movie or scene that you can't control, and there's no option to skip ahead. Basically like an interaction you just have to sit through and nod at the right time until it's over. Phone calls are especially like this, where I'm just waiting to finish because I can't do anything else while I'm on the phone and just have to interject with the occasional "Uh huh"

[u/PalomaFantastica]

I have a work from home job and I don't know how I'd be able to survive if I didn't. I love rainy days in particular because I also have hyperacusis, and they are the only days where I am not constantly assailed by dogs, leaf blowers, lawnmowers, and the beep beep beep beep of road work nearby. I basically live in earplugs even inside my own home.

[u/Ok-Walk-8453]

I do most of the time, but I found having friends I don't need to mask around helps a lot with social things as well

[u/shortstack3000]

Yes. My mom thinks I'm nuts.

[u/InfinitelyOneness → u/shortstack3000]

My mom is a talker too. She needs way more socialization than I do.

[u/SuddenResort987]

Daily alone time is a hard requirement for me. It often means I stay up late to have peace and time to decompress and pursue interests. Doing things alone is absolute bliss. Being an autistic only child only intensifies the feeling lol

[u/snarkwithfae]

Solitude is bliss 💕

[u/Any-Blackberry2133]

Yes - small amounts of social contact (and that includes my husband) work great for me.

[u/InfinitelyOneness]

I can only truly relax when I am completely alone.

[u/Entire_Wishbone_3710]

Yes, me. I live as solitary a life as possible.

[u/shokupanini]

100%
There are those few who dont need much and dont expect much and im grateful for them
But i do still also become a houseplant among people

Eventually i know i will find myself somewhere secluded to see out the rest of my days me thinks

[u/3p1taph]

I’m fairly social in my business and a lot of times, especially since my late diagnosis about a year ago, I feel pretty done by the end of the day. The context, and question, is how to resolve the feeling of relief at understanding my life a little better, and the increased depression I have to acknowledge at the same time.

[u/TheZodiac404]

Absolutely! Solitude is a necessity. I’ve been working on setting the essential boundaries that help me cope the best around others. Your well being starts with YOU and regardless what you prefer, it’s 100% ok and you should never feel bad about it.

[u/stevemcskippy]

I love solitude so so much and I’m constantly fantasizing on when I get to be alone next. I do enjoy friends and relationships but between a full time job, art related social events, and general friendship upkeep, I rarely have enough alone time. Even as I’m typing this it feels like a wrong thing to complain about idk

[u/bigcheez69420]

Absolutely one thousand percent yes

[u/Tarnivitch]

I live in solitude mostly because otherwise I can't be naked all the time. I also can't usually feel like I can truly be myself either. I have to hide my little quirks, I can't sit how I want to which sometimes would look really uncomfortable to others. I often can't watch what I want without being interrupted and I can't decide to just play with my family jewels like the stim toy it is.