I have a hot take. I think the loneliness epidemic can be entirely blamed on the fact that we all have very weak boundaries. As society continues to erode around us, i think most of us are in the freeze response right now.
But seriously - with the rise of the cellphone, bosses started assuming they could reach you outside of working hours. With social media, now your entire life is on display for the whole world to see.
Add cancel culture to that, and you get people who are afraid to speak their minds, because suddenly your thoughts aren’t private. Or worse, someone will post something of you without permission.
Then the pandemic comes along, our whole world gets turned upside down, only to be basically gaslit (no matter what political side you’re on) by the politicians and businesses expecting us to all move on as if nothing happened?
I think people are so socially anxious and drained because we arent even used to an existence where we can say no. So it makes sense that even something as small as going to a bar with a friend is too much - how can you navigate a tricky social situation if you arent even sure what your own boundaries are? It’s a scary position to be in.
I say this with a lot of empathy, because i grew up in an abusive household where i wasnt allowed to have boundaries. The only way to get better is to practice, and sadly, yes, that means making mistakes. It means not everyone will like you. But thats okay, because you dont like everyone. And the more you’re able to say no, the more authentically you’re able to be yourself. Even if it hurts in the short term.
stormborns
germansingergirl
