I’m reading through a book on dealing with hoarding disorder, and it talked about how hoarders tend to be socially isolated. So I read through the checklist on how to determine if your hoarder is socially isolated.
the options were often: 1-3 times a week, sometimes:1 or more times a month, and “never”. Most of my categories were “never” although some were really “less than once a month.
i literally never call friends for support or to invite them to do something.
i almost never have company in my home and never because I invited them.
i almost never accept invitations from friends to do anything (mostly they don’t ask anymore)
i literally never call family members to invite them to do anything.
I almost never have anyone in to help me with anything (my mom helped me set up a shelf in the basement this year and a guy installed the floor - but dh arranged that)
i know the name of one neighbor (and avoid him as much as possible - spoke with him once in the last two years)
i do not belong to any clubs or organizations.
i do not belong to a religious group.
i “sometimes” call a family member for support.
i “often” speak to my children or parents. (Mostly by phone)
i “often” spend time with my significant other (he lives here.)
I thought that I “often” spoke to friends or saw coworkers, but dh said they mean outside of work - so, never.
i see medical professionals about twice twice a year (including routine mammograms, glasses, General check ups, and my gynecologist)
i have difficulty making new friends. In the category of people I consider “friends” The newest one I met five years ago - she has never been to my house. We have never done anything away from work. There is another woman at work whom I have known for three years and am starting to think of as a friend.
keeping in touch with old friends - my best friend from college and I exchange emails every six months on each other’s birthdays.
i do take classes for 8 weeks at a time about 3x a year. The classes meet once a week. I Also sometimes attend professional trainings voluntarily.
They did not offer email or online groups as social connection options.
if someone told me that I was going to go the next week without seeing or hearing another human being, my first thought would be “cool.”