Does anyone else here experience being around people physically and located within social groups, yet feeling unable to relate deeply with anyone at all?
I've felt this way for a long time, and I'm starting to realize it might be connected to emotional neglect and trauma.
Growing up, I was taught to put on a filter for others. Act this way. Say these things. Be such and such a kind of person. I could never simply "be me," nor did I really learn why that was supposed to be important, especially (and even so!) in social settings.
Nowadays, I notice that people (presumably, those who didn't experience the things I did) tend to be far more self-assured, confident, and proud of their individual passions and pursuits. And that this sense of pride in themselves leads to natural connections with other, similarly passionate people. This is the regular way that people connect, and form deeply meaningful relationships.
Without that kind of assurance to present myself, especially socially, without all those artificial filters that don't really represent me, I find myself unable to really connect with anyone beyond the surface.
Have others experienced something similar? What does that feeling of isolation—or loneliness despite being surrounded by others—mean to you personally?