Sorry I must ask
@TropicalStarfish do you have a lot of experience with isolating yourself?
Hmm, I don't think so, at least not for the majority of my life. I never really dealt with any of the stuff that falls under the common umbrella term, "depression,' until recently in my life.
But, I think I can see some of the typical patterns...
I've heard extremely depressed people talk about it though. I knew a guy in a hospital ward who explained that he didn't tell _anyone_ he was in there, and didn't want them to know, because he didn't want to, 'bother,' them, or be a burden, or something silly like that.
Just silly things like that, that the cloud of despair, distorts perceptions.
So, it's weird, it's can be like you feel you have this sort of, 'communicable disease,' so you quarantine yourself; but, it probably only makes things worse. Yet, the opposite probably isn't helping much either, else one wouldn't try to get away.
*shrugs*
I guess in my experience, I've learned that... Sometimes, it's better to face the harsh pain, alone, rather than reach out to people who, in their frustration, will only make it worse. But, there is a balance to be found there. You don't want to fall off the map. Just get lost for a little while, then come up for air periodically; and, make sure while you are down there, diving in the depths, you study yourself a bit...
I dunno tho...