Have you ever lived as a shut-in?

[Locut0s]

2. Interesting, thanks for the info...

I have never heard it called that specifically but I believe I've been self aware enough in recent years to realize that many of my issues stem from something of this nature. That is a maladaptive thought process that I've "learned". Unlearning it is the difficult part and where a therapist comes in. When incorrect though processes become so second nature that you are hardly concious of them, or even if you are you may not be conscious of their depth, it becomes quite difficult to stop.

For example I am aware that the reason I hide away at home here is the perception that the world does not accept failure, that I'll be ridiculed and shamed in the face of it. And yet I have enough anecdotal evidence to know that by and large this is NOT the truth. Internalizing this knowledge though, is another matter.