😶🌫️ What it means to have grown up with social isolation
Growing up with social isolation meant you learned early that social connection was unpredictable and painful, requiring you to develop a protective shell around your true self to avoid repeated experiences of being pushed out of groups.
You may have learned to approach relationships with caution, anticipating rejection before it happens. Even in supportive environments now, you scan for signs that you're about to be excluded because your nervous system can't quite believe you belong anywhere without constant vigilance.
You may find that relationships feel like walking on thin ice—constantly monitoring for cracks and never fully trusting the surface will hold your weight. You can spot fellow outsiders from across the room, gravitating toward people who understand life on social margins, but sometimes you catch yourself writing people off before they've had a chance to know you.