When being around people feels like too much
A reflection on loneliness, overwhelm, and learning to protect your energy.
Lately, I’ve been feeling lonely, but at the same time, I don’t really want to be around people.
I still connect online. I post, I reply, I stay in touch. That part of me feels intact. But in person, everything feels louder. Small talk is harder to fake. Crowded places make me tired. Even casual catch-ups leave me needing time to recover.
This is new for me. I used to enjoy being social. I could move through a room with ease, carry conversations, make people feel comfortable. But now, I feel different. It’s like my tolerance for noise, both literal and emotional, has faded.
Even with people I love, I find myself pulling back. There are friends I care about deeply, people I’ve known for years, who I trust and genuinely enjoy. And still, I can’t bring myself to reach out. I think about it. I even draft the text message in my head. But the act of making a plan, of putting energy toward being around someone, often feels like more than I can give.
It’s not about them. It’s about me. About what my body and mind can hold right now.
Maybe this is just a season… maybe it’s burnout. I’m trying not to judge it, and instead, understand what this time of my life is teaching me.
The people I care about are still there, and when I have more to give, I’ll find my way back in a way that feels right.
I’m still figuring it out and I have a feeling I’m not the only one. What kind of connection feels possible for you right now, and what kind feels like too much?
