Friends and social life

I have recently been thinking about my social interaction with people and other than the people I work with, I only have my partner for social interaction.

Up to a point I am fine with this and still seek being on my own away from my partner, which he understands and is happy to accommodate.  However, I have been wondering if this is a completely healthy way of going about life.  I'm not lonely and if anything find I will do anything to find isolation following work, as I am normally feel overwhelmed at the end of a shift.

What I am debating in my head is whether I am in a bit of a rut and have accepted this isolation and therefore it doesn't affect me?  At the moment, I am happy being with just my partner and looking after my animals.  My partner has been a little concerned in the past, but I think like me has accepted that this is the way I am and shouldn't force social interactions on me.  I hear from others though that social interaction makes us happy and stops us feeling isolated and depressed.  If I didn't have my partner and animals, then I may be able to relate to this better.  

I find friendships hard work and difficult to keep.  One side of me said I will be putting unnecessary stress on myself by trying to find new friends (especially with similar interests to me!), the other side of me is thinking about the fact that I have become to reliant on my partner and animals for social stimulus and should instead step outside of my comfort zone.

Has anyone else had this debate and come to some sort of logical conclusion of what is best or has experienced the outcome for themselves?  Fr

Parents
  • i have given up on partners or friends as i reckon, if it's never happened yet and i'm nearly fifty, it's not going to. Animals do nothing for me. I too am in a bit of a rut!

  • I like to think it's never too late for things to happen.  I think part of the problem is assessing how you have become stuck in that rut and how you would like to change it.  I have now started to analyse how I have slipped into my comfort zone and how I can emerge without causing too much stress to myself.  

    Part of my problem is I am not sure what level of socialising I am ready for.  I think starting new friendships will be a bit too much at the moment.  I am looking at one of my old special interests which I have let slipped which is writing music as it used to mean going to music venues and open mic nights.  Socialising and meeting new people all tied into my interest then, so I might look at this as a way if tackling my rut.

Reply
  • I like to think it's never too late for things to happen.  I think part of the problem is assessing how you have become stuck in that rut and how you would like to change it.  I have now started to analyse how I have slipped into my comfort zone and how I can emerge without causing too much stress to myself.  

    Part of my problem is I am not sure what level of socialising I am ready for.  I think starting new friendships will be a bit too much at the moment.  I am looking at one of my old special interests which I have let slipped which is writing music as it used to mean going to music venues and open mic nights.  Socialising and meeting new people all tied into my interest then, so I might look at this as a way if tackling my rut.

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