I would likely be far more anxious around people, far more depressed, and my general life would be bland. I wouldn't be an active agent in life, I'd be an active consumer of whatever helps me avoid it.
This sounds like me for the last few years during my health challenges. Although I recognized it, I just fell further into the hole. Only until the last few months and cutting myself off has the pleasure of real life started illuminating around me again. Hive is about the only social I frequent now, other than the occasional trip through Farcebook so I can stay in touch with old Marine friends and older family members. Even then I limit my time to just a few minutes.
As for my challenges and what people think, I just stopped giving a fuck.
Isn't it interesting how "cutting off" actually brings life back? I think it is like a drug addict stuck in a drug-induced stupor, and then getting clean and seeing life with clarity. Everything has a little more colour.
This is the way to do it, but at the same time, social circles are so small now and harder to build with new people. I still feel like I have to give some fucks.
Yeah, but those social circles that are small will be people that don't give a crap about your challenges either and understand and accept them. At least that is how I feel.
Yeah I think people close to me put up with me - because they have few other options :D
😀