What do you do when you're sick of people?

Question

Mindless chatter, joking, deep discussions, gossip... everything just drains me or aggravates me in different ways lately.

I'm an introvert, but these social interactions have been draining me more than usual, and I find I have very little to say to people and put up a pretense of engaging in social situations just to appear normal.

THE THING IS, these people are people I've known for awhile - family, friends, acquaintances... but I've just gotten so sick of them all. Not them, as people, but the interactions I make with all of them, whether it be jokes that now just feel stale, gossip which negatively provokes me, deep discussions that make life so d**n serious, or mindless chatter that feel like a waste of time.

I've given myself a lot of time-out, but are these the only means of social conversation that we as people make? I guess I feel like what Uma Thurman once said in Pulp Fiction (possibly paraphrasing), "why do we feel it necessary to talk about bullshit to feel comfortable?"

Anyway,the question is directed to either people who relate to where I am right now, or people who can shed light into that big question up there.

Answer 1

I can completely relate. It seems that as we get older we just seem to realize what we've been doing this whole time: which is nothing. We talk about what other people are doing or what they did. We talk about stupid little inside jokes or on the rare occasion get on a deep subject but then the mood turns too serious. If we're not talking about that stuff then we're making idle chit-chat and honestly, I don't think there's anything else.

What to do when you're sick of people? If it's the people you're always around, find new people.Make new interactions and possibly not be bored within 2 minutes. Take a vacation or go somewhere else for the weekend. Do what you have to do so that you can get away from the norm because that seems to be your dilema. Experience something new WITH someone new. You'll be surprised.

If that doesn't work, then find new means of talking. Learn a different language. Talk to random people online. The biggest thing is the term "different." Change things up and soon you'll feel a little better. If you're the type that's afraid of change, then there's your problem. It can be a good and rewarding experience if you do it right babe. Have a good one.

-Later Gator-

Answer 2

You are just going through changes and what seemed the norm to you before is just annoying now. Remain friends with these people, but in the meantime, branch out your interests and do different things, hang out with different people. They haven't changed, only your perspective. It's part of maturing that continues to happen no matter what age you are.  

Answer 3

I would recommend traveling...You will be in more control...you can do what you want and will meet different people in different parts of the world. You never know...just because you are born here doesn't mean this society is meant for you...traveling and exploring different cultures and traditions can open up a lot of possibilities for you.

Answer 4

I feel the same way a lot. That's primarily why I'm on the computer. It's really easy to turn off. When I start getting really anxious around people, I totally use the answering machine on the phone and I dont answer knocks on the door. I'll never understand why people feel it's ok to just stop by and expect me to welcome them. Obviously, if this kind of behavior goes on for too long, I'd have to take another look at it. Until that happens, you know what to do after the beep.

Answer 5

Sounds like you're not much of a people person.

I just make up an excuse and leave the conversation if I don't like where it is going. But I think you need to understand that people are generally like that. We want to talk about something (especially women).

Just don't be rude about it. sooner or later people know who they can open up to and who to avoid.

Answer 6

That's what vacations are for.

Answer 7

When I'm feeling like you're feeling, I shut down my social calendar so I don't have to deal with anyone.  I quit answering my phone.  When I get emails from concerned friends or relatives saying they haven't been able to reach me I tell them I've just been really, really busy and then I chat for a couple of minutes and then excuse myself telling them I need to go answer the doorbell or something equally inane.  Sometimes I shut myself up in my room for a whole weekend and don't answer the phone or the door either one and simply read a book or watch movies.  If I'm at work, I don't look up from my computer so they will get the message "I'm busy; don't bother me."  With some of my closest friends or my sisters I can even tell them "I'm not feeling like conversation" and they will leave me alone.  The older I get, the more I find I would like to be a hermit.  Conversation bores me, tires me and gets on my nerves.  Maybe a monk and take a vow of silence is in order.  Do they allow female monks, I wonder?