How do you feel and act around your immediate family?

In my case, I feel absolutely fine. I don't feel any need to be alone from them, and I don't feel suffocated by their presence. My immediate family are the only people with whom I can be myself around.

Is this the same for you, or do you generally feel the need to be alone from everybody?

I pretty much feel the same way.

Velociraptor wrote:I pretty much feel the same way.

Are you saying you feel the same way I do, or are you saying you feel the same way around your family as you do around other people?

I've tried and been unsuccessful at every attempt I've made to live away from them. I still want my own apartment one day to live alone and not have to see them for however long I choose.. But I care for my parents and my sister now because of how much crap I've put them through and their willingness to take me back every time I screw up. I guess I feel indebted to them, obligated to keep in contact with them because they genuinely care about me and I've taken that for granted for so long.
I can be silly and be serious around my sister but with my parents, I'm my quiet, serious self and rarely ever crack jokes or act goofy when I'm driving with them or living in the same space with them. Unless I'm drunk..

LoneWanderer wrote:

Velociraptor wrote:I pretty much feel the same way.

Are you saying you feel the same way I do, or are you saying you feel the same way around your family as you do around other people?

Same way as you.

LoneWanderer wrote:In my case, I feel absolutely fine. I don't feel any need to be alone from them, and I don't feel suffocated by there presence. My immediate family are the only people whom I can be myself around.

polar opposites

Rob K wrote:

LoneWanderer wrote:In my case, I feel absolutely fine. I don't feel any need to be alone from them, and I don't feel suffocated by there presence. My immediate family are the only people whom I can be myself around.

polar opposites

You feel uncomfortable around your family, but comfortable around other people (strangers)?

yes.

Yeah sure I'm ok. Been living in a house with many family members all my life, so I'm accustomed to it. But I certainly am not as relaxed, as I would be if alone. The presence of anyone, even close ones, keeps me tense and on guard, unable to be completely cool.

I could spend the rest of my life in a small enclosed space with my mother, and it would be fine. She's the only one I've ever known who can sit next to me for several hours and be as oblivious to my presence as I am to hers. I have a strong suspicion that she is schizotypal, any way. There is no expectation on either of us. The rest of my family, on the other hand, I can be near for short periods at a time. My father for the least, since he is emotionally dependent on me for affection and validation which I give when necessary but can only handle for very small bursts before it becomes too much.

When I finish my degree, I plan to move back in with my mother and grandmother, since my entire immediate family is out of work and struggling financially. They (both my parents and my brother's family) will be dependent on me, and while I strongly dislike this, it's impossible to argue against the fact that I have a duty to them.