I feel the same. Or at the very least my upbringing sure didn't help.

I, too, think my introverted personality is partly due to my upbringing, but there are so many of us that I feel it has to be at least partly in our genes.

I was in sales and was pretty successful. My sales coach, after giving me a battery of tests, said he had no explanation for my success... that I was low on the dominance scale and high on introversion. I told him it was sheer stubbornness... Socializing with clients was my job... but please don't invite me to a non work party.

ty Ma'am

Curious as to "not being the case" for you. Your profile pic says 'I'm fine" though upside down says "save me". If intentional , what is it you need saving from?

@TerminalSunshine yesterday was an abhorrent day for me. This weekend doesn't forecast any improvement.

@Squirrel Things getting any better?

@Squirrel Sorry to hear things don't seem to be going well presently for you. Change is the one constant in our life's and I hope for change for you. As humans adaptation is what I reckon has kept us around. When I reach that point where I am being abhorrent, I make myself get out and do something like hiking to local water falls. Always hard to push myself out the door, but when I return from a solidary excursion I always feel somewhat better. Don't you think perhaps you are doing the forecasting? If so, can you not change the forecast by doing something you don't normally do thus breaking the cycle? I do hope you have a good weekend and indulge in something you enjoy, even if it is the smallest thing.

@HeraTera @TerminalSunshine Tomorrow my wife is packing her things to move out. She told me yesterday she wants an open marriage. Sunday she's leaving while I take my kids to Oregon where they'll stay the summer with their mother. I can't talk about work other than it is most overwhelming, and I'm alone. I know there are things to be optimistic about. I know I'm just blind to it. I don't know how to bring light to it. I feel it's comparable to swimming to the surface of a deep body of water. I feel like I'm close to breaking the surface and I'll be able to breath. Every moment I fail to inhale, I feel much more desperate for air.

@Squirrel I am very sorry to hear of your marital problems. My wife also left me from a 30 year marraige so perhaps I have some sense of what you could be going through. I spent the first 2 years basically in bed so I understand that suffocating feeling only as it applies to myself. If you ever feel the need to talk to someone please feel free to pm me. For most men it is very to talk to someone for that is the way most of us are brought up. Being you don't know me nor I you, perhaps it would be helpful to talk. Hang in there and the offer to pm is open any time my friend.

@Squirrel I'm so sorry you are having to deal with all that. It was 3 years ago when my husband did practically the same to me at the exact same time my son was going away to college. Suddenly the house was empty and I felt so alone. It is a horrible feeling. The days are long and they drag by while you adjust.

But you know what - you do adjust. And once you start to - you realize how much better the situation you find yourself in truly is - because you are no longer with someone who does not want to be with you. It leaves you free to look for someone who does. It leaves you free to be yourself. You will be able to inhale again. A place like this is a good place to come to talk to people too - and that helps a little while you are trying to catch your breath

@HeraTera Very well put Ma'am.

@TerminalSunshine @HeraTera Thank you so much your reassurance. I'll let you know how it goes.