I am a misanthropic schizoid and cannot stand being around people.?

Question

I've recently begun high school and can already feel the effects seeping in. I cannot stand being in the presence of others. The thought of going to school depresses me deeply--not because I don't greatly enjoy learning, but because school mandates I spend several hours surrounded by and interacting with other people.

Note that I don't have social anxiety. I couldn't care less what people think of me. I just feel tremendously uncomfortable--you might call it a phobia--around them, and it doesn't help that high school is comprised almost entirely of air-headed anti-intellectual partygoing scumbags. Misanthropic I may be, but of good reason!

I look for advice. Were it possible--I am 14--I would quit school. The thought of it approaching has more than once found me contemplating suicide. Do not suggest therapy or anti-depressants--I'm already on the latter, and the former strikes me as a waste of time.

What are my options? Do I even have any? I fear for my mental well-being if this is to continue.

Answer 1

There are many ways to engage social situations without fully engaging in them. Nothing says you HAVE to do anything more than simply 'pass' your classes. That means you aren't obligated to join any social institutions, have a busload of friends, or basically engage in any way, shape, matter or form in the place you are going to beyond attending and performing to minimal standards.

Sit in the back or the front of the class, preferably at the edges. If you sit at the front to the extreme left or right, then you only have 3 people in your immediate vicinity to worry about 90% of the time (forced group interactions are simply unfortunate and unavoidable.) Don't raise your hand unless called upon, get middling grades (if you get really high grades, people will notice and that will bring you unwanted attention, especially if some of those airheads want to cheat off you or wish you to tutor them or do their homework for them, difficulty best avoided if possible.) When talking to others, keep your answers short and always act as if you are in a big hurry. People will get the message and will simply leave you alone (they have too much going on in their life to notice.)

When away from school, get your homework out of the way really quick, then spend the rest of your days, and your weekends, doing what makes you happy. Dream in private about what you want to do when you graduate. Soon enough, you'll be out of high school and will be grateful to never have to look at that ugly building (and those airheads) ever again. The real world is just as full of airheads but you have alot more choices about how you choose to interact with them.

Answer 2

Trust me i know how you feel i went through the same thing,i didn't want to be near anyone especially people from school.I wanted to isolate and disconnect myself from the people i went to school with and i haven't been diagnosed with social anxiety or depression (although i do feel depressed most of the time i think it's due to the environment) Just the thought of going to school the next day would depress me i didn't want to go to sleep because i knew once i would wake up I'd have to go to that dreaded school. i felt like my whole life was the same......like everyday was exactly the same like everything was synchronized. it depressed me to the point where i would skip school take the bus to the city and spent the day in Manhattan.  

Now I'm paying the price by repeating my j.r year of high school (yeah i skipped school that much that i had to repeat the grade,had school agents come looking for me h**l i even got the nickname ''Ferris Bueller '') what i recommend is pairing up with people who give you good influences who motivate you and make you feel like you truly matter in this case my girlfriend she always supports me. Find someone who understands you,someone you can talk to etc.because feeling like that will lead you to a very bad place.......Mentally .

I hope this helps you and hey.....you're not alone :)

Answer 3

you seem very smart, so dont try diagnosing yourself. its not worth it. causes more problems. so dont diagnose yourself. if you dont want us to suggest therapy then stop diagnosing yourself

Answer 4

OK, if in fact you have schizoid personality (hypothetically) or aspergers, it makes complete sense that you can't stand being around people, talk therapy than'd be very likely just like you stated - a waste of time and the options would likely be an online education/home schooling and GED. However, you are young and diagnosing you with personality disorder is not feasible till you are 18 at least. I'd get diagnosed first (and by several docs to insure it's the right one) and see if you can use that to persuade your parents to find different ways to secure your education.

Answer 5

You say that therapy strikes you as a waste of time, yet here you are discussing your situation and asking for input -- this is precisely what you would be doing in therapy only with a highly educated and trained individual (don't settle or put up with anything less).  I have taken advantage of therapy several times during my life and I find that it is what you choose to make of it.  Instead of having to read all the books and try to figure everything out myself, I could use my therapist as a resource and focus my attention and energy on the specific problem or "roadblock" at hand.  As for school, I can empathize.  I'm much older than you, so I speak from experience here -- don't short-change yourself.  As annoying as it can be having to interact with others that you feel no connection with at all, there is still much to learn just by being in that situation -- for one thing, learning how to be in that situation and derive something valuable from the experience.  Go there to get the education you're going to need to give yourself viable options for determining the course of the rest of your life.  You're going to have to live with all types of people on this planet, so use this present experience and your intellect to figure out a way to be in it, but not of it.  Keep your focus on your long-term life goals and realize that every day gets you closer to them.  Once you're an adult, you're a long time in the world and your present circumstances are only for a short time by comparison.  You may not be able to change your present circumstances, but you have the power to change your perception and attitude about it to make it a more worthwhile experience.

Answer 6

Well let me just say that you sound very smart for a 14 year old.

Your only options are to try your best to meet people that have similar interests. The second one is to suck it up. It's only four years of your life, so in retrospect, that's a very small part of your life. Highschool is pretty meaningless socially because most people are immature anyways.  

Answer 7

Wow ur very mature for a 14 year old...Why dont you get a private tutor?

Answer 8

Well first, don't rule out therapy. If you find a GOOD counselor willing to not just listen but to offer practical advice, he or she can be very helpful. However, if you are totally against it, that is ok. One question, if you plan on having any type of job after high school, you do realize that you will be around people about 40 hours a week, don't you? This is why I suggest seeking professional advice. Also, have you talked with your parents about your feelings? Is it possible to complete your high school career online (homeschooling)? I understand your frustration at others your age. I was teased and bullied mercilessly while in high school, to the point where I only took my core classes and got out early and went to work for the rest of the time. Does your school have some type of school/work situation like that? Good luck