It was a comfort zone. Something I try to avoid these days before it gets out of hand or starts controlling me. We become robots when attempting to play a role and do it well. A lot of what's outside of that role gets neglected, or hidden.
I didn't leave those lives feeling broken. Often a new set of challenges is a breath a fresh air. The first few breaths are gasps though, much like being choked out, then eventually things settle.