Laz - on being abstracted from the world around you

I totally have this, albeit in a less controlled way than it sounds like you have. Apparently it can be a clinical condition - detachment disorder. ANyway, all I knows is I feel like I live deep within myself and sometimes I have to travel quite far to reach the surface to see what's going on.

This is totally a thing isn’t it. Interesting that you have it too.

It manifests itself in lots of ways. I’m a thinker not a doer, I observe rather than interact, I understand things in theory more than I do in practice.

It has drawbacks but it also has advantages. I find it easy to gain knowledge and technical skills but harder to realise “hard” achievements. Sometimes the world kicks back and reminds me that it does have an existence independent of my mind’s cinema reel, and I don’t know what to do about it. However, one big advantage is that I really do very rarely get annoyed by other people.

I know what you mean in the last sentence - I can spend literally days inside my own head, although children make this harder, in a way I find pleasant.

I do feel I have got some degree of control over it now - as with a lot of things it helps to realise what it is and look it in the eye and acknowledge it. Then it is more manageable.

I think this shared disposition may be why we are both prolific internet forummers.

You are the 2 best on rof (other than Hyoo)

sorry if I caused offence on the other thread Clergham

Is this a form of autism?

I agree re the explanation for profligacy!

thanks hotnow I forgiv u x

and I think the opposite, Bernstein

for me, anyway, it's acute sensitivity to other people that encourages the psychological fort-building

I have a neuro difference, too. If I had realised when I was deciding careers, I would NOT have done law.

maybe at some level it is, or was, for me too

maybe not annoyance with other people, but hypersensitivity to what they think of me

perhaps this encouraged a retreat. It’s not just that, in my case tho. I think it’s to a large extent nature not nurture.

have you had a dx, dusty?? awesome stuff if so!

what would you have picked instead? it's not too late !(unless the answer is Olympic gymnast or chimney sweep)

No, but I know what it is. They won't transfer me to the relevant peeps due to being overwhelmed and I am not urgent, cos I am a lawyer and "apparently managing fine already" !!!

Instead I would have stayed in retail and worked my way up or set up my own business (dunno what in) or something where I could be a bit more creative.

yeah the NHS is shite (I have a friend who is at that "done all the quizzes and just waiting for a referral to come through" stage and I haven't the heart to tell her that she will have to go private if she wants anything more useful than a couple of CBT seshes in 18 months time - I mean I am not sold on medication as have heard so many horror stories and I think a lot of the best stuff, meditation etc, can be done off your own bat but STILL). They spend so much on forensic services and awareness campaogns and so little on treating things early.

well, you could DEFINITELY still do something creative

ever think about going PT and doing your own business on the side? not that this is an easy thing to juggle