Is it normal to miss school to avoid social interaction

44% Normal
12 Comments

Hi, I'm a person with extreme social anxiety/chronic depression and all of that jazz. I've been having a problem with truancy since preschool (basically my entire student career) and I've tried a million and one ways to try and fix it.

The problem is that I hate social interaction so much that I'll refuse to go to school and I feel very trapped and panicky when I do go; Like I'll never be able to leave (It's a trauma thing). This has affected me so much that I've been held back.

I've been to therapy for most of my life, have had major consequences, tried an allowance, even switched schools but I just can't shake my anxiety. It makes my depression worse since I feel like a failure and makes my anxiety worse from feeling like I could be expelled at any moment.

I just wanted to ask, is this normal and do you guys have any recommendations? I'm at my wits end and I have been threatened to get kicked out of the house because of this problem. That isn't even enough to get me to go. It just makes me withdraw from the world even more.

Help me and please be nice, I'm a very sensitive person!

Voting Results
44% Normal
Based on 27 votes (12 yes)
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Comments ( 12 )
  • CarlTheBugFucker
    7 years ago

    When I was in school I had a somewhat similar problem. I'd have to sit in the back of the class, along the side or near the door. I'd feel trapped and felt an overwhelming need to "escape". If the door was in the front of the room it was like a living nightmare. I had a lot of absences and spent a lot of time in the nurses office.
    I was diagnosed with panic disorder and depression. Is there a school councelor you can speak to or your family doctor? I got better with the help of medication and a therapist. I wish you well, I know how difficult and alone it can feel.

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  • riffraffy
    7 years ago

    That you're a sensitive person goes without saying: your ego is too damn big. It's what makes you overly critical and so self-conscious. A big ego makes it feel like everyone has you under a microscope, when in reality they're hardly paying you any mind.

    Work on killing that ego and your anxiety will fade away.

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    • ringneckdove
      7 years ago

      It's not that I fear them not liking me. I just have bad paranoia of being stuck there. Sorry if I wasn't clear enough. I do have a problem with sensitivity so I am probably a bad person.

      Edit: It's also that I hate being seen, if that makes any sense. I don't want anyone to have to help me and feel really guilty and awful when I have no choice.

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      • riffraffy
        7 years ago

        You should reflect on why you hate being seen, and where the source of the guilt is coming from. Self shame can kill you long before you're dead. Think beyond 'I have ____ phobia'.

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        • ringneckdove
          7 years ago

          I feel guilty when people have to help me because I feel like I'm inconveniencing them and making things harder for them. I hate being seen because I might be talked to and I have barely any endurance for social interaction; even being around people. This makes me feel shameful and worried because I feel like I'll hurt someone if I don't speak when spoken to. I don't know how to fix it. :(
          Thank you for giving me suggestions.

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  • CreamPuffs
    7 years ago

    You should try being homeschooled instead. Our public education systems are hell and a half.

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    • ringneckdove
      7 years ago

      I have brought that up but my parents don't like the idea since I'm basically becoming agoraphobic.

      Edit: Do you maybe have any more suggestions?

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  • ogrelord
    7 years ago

    Do you have special ed units at your school? I have anxiety and I use to go down there either by myself or with just one friend, if you ask nicely they'll usually let you have a whole empty classroom to yourself, or one with like only 5 or 6 people in it.

    I find the teachers down there are nicer to, I loved coming down there because I would be alone and most of the time none of the teachers would bother me.

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    • ringneckdove
      7 years ago

      We have areas for people to go to but I always feel like I'm inconveniencing people and making things harder for them by having them bring me there and stay there when they could be doing something of their choosing. I could use the med bay though. Thank you.

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  • ringneckdove
    7 years ago

    I already went to an alternative school but they were emotionally abusive and I ended up needing to check myself into a mental health hospital. The new school I go to is great but I still get to scared to go.

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  • Smokey1D
    7 years ago

    We all have egos and that's healthy- and being sensitive doesn't make you a bad person ar all. I wonder why you fear being stuck there? Is it far from home? Do uou mean getting stuck if something ent wrong and you weren't well? Schools are happy to look after you if not well...clinics and sick bays. Kids go there all the time. And people actually like to help- it gives them a sense of achievement and caring. Its ok for them to care about you.

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    • ringneckdove
      7 years ago

      I know that it's normal to have an ego but I immediately attack myself in my head if I think something about me is good since I really don't want to be like a person that has treated me horribly. I'm working on it though.

      I'm scared of being stuck there because of past trauma in a previous school and places my parents have shipped me off to that were very abusive to the kids there. I can't get over the fear and I can't speak about it in real life.

      Another reason why is because I have an extreme fear of having attention drawn to myself, I don't know why, and feel awful when people need to help me because of my handicap.

      I get sick and have a lot of pain from this and that goes back to my other school were if I was in pain, I would get punished for it. Since that was before I got diagnosed so they assumed it was a behavior problem.

      I should have explained it better but I don't want to make people read a really long post.

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