Anonymous wrote:My husband can go weeks and not leave the house. He does go out and work in the yard, but like actually leaving the property - nope. He's not depressed, just doesn't like dealing with people.

There’s a decent chance your husband is actually suffering from social anxiety. It’s a real thing that can be treated; look it up. Does he seem to fear people? New social situations? Is he someone who tends to find a problem with the most people?

I had an acquaintance who bemoaned that her college son never left his dorm room besides going to the cafeteria and going to class. He basically spent his first and second years of college having very minimal social interactions with other students. Like your husband, he rationalized that he just didn’t like dealing with people (and I suspect Internet rabbit holes made him feel like this was okay.) Turned out he had social anxiety that he needed help managing.

The goal isn’t to be some massive social butterfly. The goal is just to be able to function in normal society.

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Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of clinically depressed people on this thread. Not the creature-of-habit WAH responses who do go out all weekend.

But all of you who proudly and defensively say you don’t leave your residence unless forced to for an appointment or something? You’re actually not okay. The fact that you prefer not interacting with the world, at all, is evidence of a problem and not actually point on a continuum of healthful alternatives

This.

Especially in the past week where it was lovely, if you were physically able and had no desire to leave the house and go for an hour walk, then yes, there is something wrong with you. You can make excuses all you want. For those that admit they're depressed, that's good self awareness. But for those that say they're not depressed and don't leave home for days at a time because you just don't want to... yeah, there is no way you're mentally healthy.

You are wrong. See how easy it is to state opinions about personal issues? We all can do it.

No rebuttal with any info. Yeah, you're not depressed at all.

Exactly what I thought. These people don’t have the self awareness to recognize there actually are norms for human behavior—and they fall outside of them.

I like to leave the house but the nastiness and judgment in the OP and some of these responses actually feel like an explanation for why some people don't want to leave the house! Ugh I would not want to hang out with any of you. Why is this your business.

Did I say it was my business what you or others do? This is all just commentary/gossip.

I love going out and I believe it’s healthy. There is a strong online cultural trend ( I work in trust and safety so I know what I’m talking about) to glorify being extremely introverted and not leave your house. I think it’s sad that this trend has encouraged unhealthy tendencies in some people. It doesn’t affect me though on a personal level.

My husband can go weeks and not leave the house. He does go out and work in the yard, but like actually leaving the property - nope. He's not depressed, just doesn't like dealing with people.

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Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of clinically depressed people on this thread. Not the creature-of-habit WAH responses who do go out all weekend.

But all of you who proudly and defensively say you don’t leave your residence unless forced to for an appointment or something? You’re actually not okay. The fact that you prefer not interacting with the world, at all, is evidence of a problem and not actually point on a continuum of healthful alternatives

This.

Especially in the past week where it was lovely, if you were physically able and had no desire to leave the house and go for an hour walk, then yes, there is something wrong with you. You can make excuses all you want. For those that admit they're depressed, that's good self awareness. But for those that say they're not depressed and don't leave home for days at a time because you just don't want to... yeah, there is no way you're mentally healthy.

You are wrong. See how easy it is to state opinions about personal issues? We all can do it.

No rebuttal with any info. Yeah, you're not depressed at all.

Exactly what I thought. These people don’t have the self awareness to recognize there actually are norms for human behavior—and they fall outside of them.

I like to leave the house but the nastiness and judgment in the OP and some of these responses actually feel like an explanation for why some people don't want to leave the house! Ugh I would not want to hang out with any of you. Why is this your business.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of clinically depressed people on this thread. Not the creature-of-habit WAH responses who do go out all weekend.

But all of you who proudly and defensively say you don’t leave your residence unless forced to for an appointment or something? You’re actually not okay. The fact that you prefer not interacting with the world, at all, is evidence of a problem and not actually point on a continuum of healthful alternatives

This.

Especially in the past week where it was lovely, if you were physically able and had no desire to leave the house and go for an hour walk, then yes, there is something wrong with you. You can make excuses all you want. For those that admit they're depressed, that's good self awareness. But for those that say they're not depressed and don't leave home for days at a time because you just don't want to... yeah, there is no way you're mentally healthy.

You are wrong. See how easy it is to state opinions about personal issues? We all can do it.

No rebuttal with any info. Yeah, you're not depressed at all.

Exactly what I thought. These people don’t have the self awareness to recognize there actually are norms for human behavior—and they fall outside of them.

Anonymous wrote:Some people suffer from mental illness, depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, etc…

Stop judging people, OP.

This! OP, it just sounds like you don't like this person. MIL?

Depressed, special, something else. Can be anything.

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of clinically depressed people on this thread. Not the creature-of-habit WAH responses who do go out all weekend.

But all of you who proudly and defensively say you don’t leave your residence unless forced to for an appointment or something? You’re actually not okay. The fact that you prefer not interacting with the world, at all, is evidence of a problem and not actually point on a continuum of healthful alternatives

I think people are actually just pushing back against OP's accusation that if you don't leave the house there is something wrong with you (which you echo here).

Some people are homebodies. I have a kid who is a total homebody and it's not evidence of depression -- she's actually among the most emotionally balanced and naturally cheerful people I know. She just likes being among her people and her things and looks forward to going home every day even when she has really enjoyed whatever she's doing away from home.

I also think it's pretty normal for a lot of people to go out less during certain times of year. Primarily the dark winter months but in DC there is actually a period in July and August when I think it's typical for a lot of people to stay in more because it's so hot and sticky. If you WAH and aren't super social to begin with then I could easily see people staying in for a few consecutive days in that weather.

I just think there are people who think you HAVE to go out every day but there are also people who don't think this and are happy at home and I wouldn't conclude someone was depressed if they were happily staying home. I admit to loving the occasional rainy weekend where we hole up at home and play board games and read and watch movies and cook at home. If I see the weather is going to be bad for a few days I like to hit the grocery store and plan a menu so we can stay in if we want. Sure we might get cabin fever and go for a walk in the rain or take advantage of a patch of dry weather to get out but we also might not.

I think if what people are saying on this thread is making you angry enough to say these disparaging things about other people then the issue is really internal to you. Why is it so important to you that everyone feels about this the way you do. Why is this getting such a rise out of you.

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of clinically depressed people on this thread. Not the creature-of-habit WAH responses who do go out all weekend.

But all of you who proudly and defensively say you don’t leave your residence unless forced to for an appointment or something? You’re actually not okay. The fact that you prefer not interacting with the world, at all, is evidence of a problem and not actually point on a continuum of healthful alternatives

+100.

Because of the Internet, we now live in a world where people will shoehorn untreated, and likely undiagnosed, depression, social anxiety, etc. into simply being a “introvert.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of clinically depressed people on this thread. Not the creature-of-habit WAH responses who do go out all weekend.

But all of you who proudly and defensively say you don’t leave your residence unless forced to for an appointment or something? You’re actually not okay. The fact that you prefer not interacting with the world, at all, is evidence of a problem and not actually point on a continuum of healthful alternatives

This.

Especially in the past week where it was lovely, if you were physically able and had no desire to leave the house and go for an hour walk, then yes, there is something wrong with you. You can make excuses all you want. For those that admit they're depressed, that's good self awareness. But for those that say they're not depressed and don't leave home for days at a time because you just don't want to... yeah, there is no way you're mentally healthy.

You are wrong. See how easy it is to state opinions about personal issues? We all can do it.

No rebuttal with any info. Yeah, you're not depressed at all.

Maybe you should sit down and talk to them and tell them they are unhealthy.

You have a guest staying in your house that you're too uncomfortable to ask them why they don't leave ever?

That's really weird that you let strangers stay in your house then complain about them.

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of clinically depressed people on this thread. Not the creature-of-habit WAH responses who do go out all weekend.

But all of you who proudly and defensively say you don’t leave your residence unless forced to for an appointment or something? You’re actually not okay. The fact that you prefer not interacting with the world, at all, is evidence of a problem and not actually point on a continuum of healthful alternatives

Who cares what you think.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of clinically depressed people on this thread. Not the creature-of-habit WAH responses who do go out all weekend.

But all of you who proudly and defensively say you don’t leave your residence unless forced to for an appointment or something? You’re actually not okay. The fact that you prefer not interacting with the world, at all, is evidence of a problem and not actually point on a continuum of healthful alternatives

This.

Especially in the past week where it was lovely, if you were physically able and had no desire to leave the house and go for an hour walk, then yes, there is something wrong with you. You can make excuses all you want. For those that admit they're depressed, that's good self awareness. But for those that say they're not depressed and don't leave home for days at a time because you just don't want to... yeah, there is no way you're mentally healthy.

You are wrong. See how easy it is to state opinions about personal issues? We all can do it.

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of clinically depressed people on this thread. Not the creature-of-habit WAH responses who do go out all weekend.

But all of you who proudly and defensively say you don’t leave your residence unless forced to for an appointment or something? You’re actually not okay. The fact that you prefer not interacting with the world, at all, is evidence of a problem and not actually point on a continuum of healthful alternatives

This.

Especially in the past week where it was lovely, if you were physically able and had no desire to leave the house and go for an hour walk, then yes, there is something wrong with you. You can make excuses all you want. For those that admit they're depressed, that's good self awareness. But for those that say they're not depressed and don't leave home for days at a time because you just don't want to... yeah, there is no way you're mentally healthy.