Is it normal that i forget how to enjoy myself / make / keep friends?
Help, I moved in with my bf this March, graduated college in June, quit alcohol and other "destructive" behaviors. He pressured me in to stopping, saying I was destroying myself. (I was.)
My summer was like this: the breakdown of my beloved car that forced me to sell it for almost nothing, my college graduation, my parents trying to resolve a messy divorce, an existential crisis which led to a nervous breakdown which sent me home (200 miles away) to my parents as a wreck who couldn't be left by herself for five minutes. Two months ago, after getting on mood stabilizing heavy-duty antidepressants, I returned to my old university town and moved back in with my boyfriend.
I have been trying to get a job since June - it's November. It's been 5 months and 3 days since graduation. Have submitted 200-300 applications, interviewed about 15 times, been rejected by all so far. Bought a used car and am now broke as f*ck. Doing paid psychology studies at school for $10 a pop to pay my car insurance. I live off my boyfriend.
I think I am close to resolving the money issue. Have high hopes for an interview I had this week. If not, I'm not too proud to go work at Walmart or the like (if they'll have me).
Many of my friends moved away when school ended. Not an atypical story. But while I was recovering I disappeared to my home town for two months. I have some contact with my friends here but it feels awkward. And because all of my fun used to revolve around drinking, parties, breweries, "trips" of all kinds, long 'Alice in Wonderland' adventures in nature, etc... I am five months sober and I am becoming the introvert I was in high school. Shy, exhausted, preferring to be alone. But not really. I miss my adventures, concerts, EDM and festivals and artistic crowds...
My boyfriend is academic... studies all day... hangs out at starbucks and reads all night and tells me I should "work" on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings.
I have been waking up sad. Sort of rubbed out. There's very little to look forward to because I don't have "FUN" anymore... apart from reading or watching Netflix or eating out. I am NOT one of those people who loves going out to eat, like my boyfriend. I'm poor and my parents raised me with food disorders. I love dance and crowds and loud music and late nights with friends on the beach. I haven't done any of those things in a long time.
I have one friend whom I regularly talk to, but any time I want to hang out with her he assumes he's coming and I would have to make a concerted big deal to go alone. Today, although he had to go do a job alone for several hours, he said I should "work" instead of hanging out with her (I do have another interview tomorrow). He is not a "YOLO" person at all. He insisted on coming with me once when I went to a rave a while back and stood there with his arms crossed the whole time. Kind of sucked.
What can I do to have fun while adjusting to a sober life? How do I assert some independence while I am broke as fuck and living in his room? Is it healthy to immerse myself in "WORK" for the time being? My mom is trying to convince me to move back home until I get a job, but I thought being in the suburbs while they are quarreling out a divorce would be depressing. Any help appreciated. ugh. thank you.