Feeling Like ‘I Can Not Function in Society?’

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Guidance on Managing Mental Health Struggles and Socialization

“I can’t do this. I can not function in society.”

I remember saying these words quietly to myself, the words catching in my throat as a few tears ran down my face. I was trying to make myself presentable before work, overwhelmed by the idea of interacting with coworkers even after two weeks at my new job. How would I make it through the day when I was at my breaking point?

Emotional problems are something that I’ve struggled with since my teenage years. While managing my mental health symptoms can feel overwhelming, I know that I’m not alone. Countless others have thoughts about being rejected, loneliness, or not being able to function at work, at home, and in relationships.

The good news is that if you too are struggling, whether from depression, anxiety, mental illness, substance use disorder, low self-worth, unresolved trauma, stressful life events, or neurodivergence, you are in the right place.

Keep reading to learn what steps you can take to feel confident in society and your relationships and how Catalina Behavioral Health can help you down that path.

Why Does it Feel Like I Can’t Handle Real Life?

Everyone has a unique battle and life experiences surrounding personal issues. Some reasons you may be struggling with day-to-day life range from stress to diagnosed mental illness, including:

Anxiety

Anxiety makes it hard to feel confident in yourself. You might not share thoughts and ideas at work or interact with others socially because you fear rejection. You might believe you are not normal, liked, or respected – but of course, these things are not true.

Depression

Symptoms of depression like low energy and loss of interest in activities makes it hard to keep social commitments. Negative thoughts can also make you feel as if you don’t deserve to have a good time or like you are a burden to the people around you.

Unresolved Trauma

If you are struggling with PTSD or other unresolved trauma, it can be hard to trust the people around you. This is true whether you are talking about strangers or someone you are close to.

There’s also an increased risk of triggers or flashbacks, making it harder to get out and be social. Bullying, past social rejection, or abuse can also impact how you interact with others.

Substance Use Disorders

People isolate when struggling with addiction for a few reasons. You may isolate to keep substance use private or make decisions that damage relationships with the people you love. Regardless, once you decide to make a change, it might not feel like there’s anyone there to encourage you to lead a better course.

Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem can occur from childhood experiences that were traumatic, holding yourself to too high of a standard, bad relationships, or mental illness. Regardless of the cause, when you struggle with self-worth, it’s hard to feel confident in yourself. You might feel like people do not enjoy your company or want you around.

Neurodivergence

People who are neurodivergent think differently than others. This is common in people with ADHD and autism. It’s not uncommon for people with these high-functioning varieties of these conditions to put up a “mask” when fitting in with others, which can be exhausting and overwhelming.

While there is nothing wrong with having neurodivergent thinking, it can make it harder to connect to others around you and lead to feelings of isolation or loneliness.

Life Circumstances

It’s easy to isolate when you are experiencing something stressful like sick parents or children, arguments with loved ones, money problems, or even problems with the country. It can be hard to explain your thought patterns, what is happening to you, or the sense of unwellness you feel. And even then, who has the right advice?

You might feel like a burden if you mention struggles to the people around you, especially if they have their own problems. It’s also possible to be so overwhelmed that managing a social life feels impossible. For example, when you are overwhelmed at work, having money problems, or dealing with the death of a friend, loved one, or pet.

Where to Turn for Help Functioning in Society

When struggling with mental illness, addiction, lack of confidence, or extreme stress, most people feel like they don’t fit into society. These problems can make you feel anxious, apprehensive, and cautious about social interaction. So, how do you make the fear that you don’t belong stop?

The first step is realizing that you do have a place in society, even if you are struggling. Things like mental illness and life experiences shape the lens through which we view the world. Through therapy, stress management, and other strategies, it becomes possible to change your thinking and overcome this sense of disconnection. Here are some other places to look for help.

Getting a Diagnosis

Recovery from anything is never a one-size-fits-all approach. Certain therapeutic techniques, coping mechanisms, and other strategies can be recommended once you’re diagnosed, taking the guess work out of recovery.

Catalina Behavioral Health is more than an addiction treatment center. We also offer mental health services, dual diagnosis treatment programs, and customized plans that allow us to be a lifeline for countless individuals, regardless of what specifically you are struggling with.

Considering Treatment Options

It can be overwhelming to feel that living has no point, you aren’t normal, your job doesn’t care, or friends and family are too busy to offer a hand. It becomes easy to fall into negative patterns, but these options can help fix what is wrong so you no longer feel lost.

Evidence-Based Therapies

There are many therapeutic techniques that help with this negative mindset. Some beneficial therapies that apply to a wide range of struggles include:

• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) – There is a heavy focus in DBT on managing intense emotions, which can be beneficial who experience intense emotional pain. It can be applied to mental illness as well as cravings, shame, and other negative emotions associated with addiction.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – This popular therapy teaches the connection between emotions, thoughts, and actions. Clients learn how to disrupt negative thoughts and manage emotions, ultimately changing unwanted behaviors.
• Humanistic therapy – During this therapeutic process, clients focus on their individual ability to heal and grow from the things that plague them.
• Family therapy – Family therapy is beneficial for developing support or managing unresolved problems.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) – EMDR therapy is most commonly used for people who have unresolved trauma.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy – During this type of therapy, clients learn to live within their values. This encourages being yourself and has been proven effective for people with severe depression.
• Interpersonal therapy – This type of therapy also takes a look at relationships and how they affect mental health.

While not a full list, these evidence-based therapies may be offered as part of an inpatient or outpatient treatment program. They go beyond basic talk therapy and teach actionable skills and strategies for managing intense emotions, battling negative thinking, and more.

Medication for Mental Illness

In some cases, medication may also be prescribed to help relieve symptoms of diagnosed mental illness. People experience mental illness differently and while some people can recover through therapy and lifestyle changes, pharmaceutical treatment can be a useful tool.

Medication is often prescribed in cases of schizophrenia, psychosis, major depression, anxiety, severe PTSD, or any time that it is believed to offer clients a better outcome following treatment. There are also cases where it is used to manage addiction.

Building Social Skills

Social skills encompass our ability to talk to and communicate with others. For example, things like conflict resolution, empathy, active listening, body language, and social cues. They all help lay the foundation for healthy relationships and the way that we interact with others.

As you use what you’ve learned, you’ll become confident in the relationships you have and the mutual support exists. It is reassuring to know that you have somewhere to turn when you feel like you can’t carry on any longer.

Group therapy is helpful for developing these skills and putting them to practice. Some therapies, like dialectical behavioral therapy, are offered in a group setting for this reason.

Developing Confidence in Yourself

Many of us spend so much time hiding our authentic selves from the world. When you don’t let your guard down, however, it’s harder to form true, lasting relationships. It can put ideas in your head that people wouldn’t actually like you if they knew who you truly were as a person.

The only way to overcome this is to embrace yourself. Worry less about people finding you “normal” and remember that your individuality makes you who you are. The people that truly matter are going to love you for that individuality.

Knowing When You Need Immediate Help

At Catalina we know all too well how quickly being lost or depressed can turn into questions about your existence and whether anything really matters. Some people might even feel like the only way to overcome their struggle is to die – but you will figure stuff out. 

It’s no secret that so many people can relate to this feeling, even though the reality is that you aren’t alone. It’s important to get help when you are not fine.

Residential treatment for mental health can benefit a person going through this situation. It provides a sanctuary away from responsibilities contributing to negative emotions and stress as you learn techniques for overcoming these struggles. It is possible to change the way that you think and eventually feel confident in your future – but it is going to take time and hard work.

Let Catalina Help You Build Skills to Function in Society

People spend so much time worrying about their place in the world. However, if you are struggling because of stress, uncomfortable circumstances, mental illness, trauma, or addiction, it doesn’t mean that you do not belong.

Yes, you may struggle – but there are also steps that you can take to overcome thoughts that you cannot function anymore. Quitting is never the right answer – it takes away the chance of things ever getting better.

Reach out to Catalina for an appointment today. Regardless of the support you need, we use a comprehensive, individualized approach to treatment. Even the biggest problems can be resolved with proper support and you’ll find that at our facility.

Call us to discuss treatment options, verify insurance, or set up a time for intake. Finding the solution to the things you struggle with really is as easy as picking up the phone!

References

1. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/04/rejection
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22838-dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt