I’ve run into similar issues because frankly, the lockdowns of 2020-2023 also shut down my socialization almost completely. I don’t share verbally, but only in pseudonymous settings like social media. In real life, I’m either task-focused (up until last month I was going to board games once a week - I’ve since shut down), taciturn and focused inward, or drunk. I don’t share inner thoughts or opinions. I don’t care much about what others around me say. The biggest problem for me of sober socializing is mostly that I don’t have anyone I’d particularly like to be with, when I’m sober.
Now that I’m in that spiral, I don’t see a way back.
I’ve run into similar issues because frankly, the lockdowns of 2020-2023 also shut down my socialization almost completely. I don’t share verbally, but only in pseudonymous settings like social media. In real life, I’m either task-focused (up until last month I was going to board games once a week - I’ve since shut down), taciturn and focused inward, or drunk. I don’t share inner thoughts or opinions. I don’t care much about what others around me say. The biggest problem for me of sober socializing is mostly that I don’t have anyone I’d particularly like to be with, when I’m sober.
Now that I’m in that spiral, I don’t see a way back.