I don't know if it is normal, but I'm sure it is quite common. I'm feeling exactly the same, more so the last couple of years.
For the most part I feel alone all the time, but when I'm with my family I feel it even more so. I grew up in a Scottish family and while basically everyone in my family enjoys their drink, I don't drink at all. As a result I just feel like an alien at times and feel as though I've never really bonded with anyone to any great degree. My relationship with my mom and dad is great, they are really the only people I've got in my life, and really the only reason I continue to live in the city I do as I've long wanted to leave. When it comes to my sister and my other family members I feel as though there is no real connection there whatsoever. I find I just can't relate to her or my cousins. We're all in our early 20's and as would be expected, they like to go out and party. Early on, when they first started going out together on the weekends, they never ever invited me. One of our oldest cousins has his own place and my sis and our other cousin are often up there. I've never once been to his house, never been invited at all. I've tried numerous times to make an effort to some how hang out with them, but they are only interested in socialising in a pub setting with a beer in their hand. I have nothing against drinking, just personally it is something I don't want to do. I'd be willing to go out to a pub once and a while, but even when I have, I'm totally excluded from the conversation. I don't find the things they laugh at funny, and they all have their own little inside jokes. Our interests are entirely different, and when I do try and make conversation I often feel they can't be bothered listening. I just leave at the end of it all feeling so frustrated and down. We have a cousin visiting that we had never met until this summer. He has gotten on great with everyone and has fit right in with the family, especially my sis and our other cousin. I ultimately feel as though I'm no longer a brother to my sister, and that I'm some foreign family member. When I don't see my cousins, I'm okay, but as soon as we all get together for a family meal or something, I truly realise where I stand. I feel like me choosing not to drink and the fact that I'm shy and have social anxiety to a degree, really defines me, at least in their eyes. I'm not sure I'll ever be close with my sister again, or any of my cousins for that matter. I could go on and on, but I suppose what I'm saying is I'm an outsider, and while it may not be something that is at all pleasant, it is definitly more common than one might think.
Is it normal to feel like an outsider in your own home?
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I don't know if it is normal, but I'm sure it is quite common. I'm feeling exactly the same, more so the last couple of years.
For the most part I feel alone all the time, but when I'm with my family I feel it even more so. I grew up in a Scottish family and while basically everyone in my family enjoys their drink, I don't drink at all. As a result I just feel like an alien at times and feel as though I've never really bonded with anyone to any great degree. My relationship with my mom and dad is great, they are really the only people I've got in my life, and really the only reason I continue to live in the city I do as I've long wanted to leave. When it comes to my sister and my other family members I feel as though there is no real connection there whatsoever. I find I just can't relate to her or my cousins. We're all in our early 20's and as would be expected, they like to go out and party. Early on, when they first started going out together on the weekends, they never ever invited me. One of our oldest cousins has his own place and my sis and our other cousin are often up there. I've never once been to his house, never been invited at all. I've tried numerous times to make an effort to some how hang out with them, but they are only interested in socialising in a pub setting with a beer in their hand. I have nothing against drinking, just personally it is something I don't want to do. I'd be willing to go out to a pub once and a while, but even when I have, I'm totally excluded from the conversation. I don't find the things they laugh at funny, and they all have their own little inside jokes. Our interests are entirely different, and when I do try and make conversation I often feel they can't be bothered listening. I just leave at the end of it all feeling so frustrated and down. We have a cousin visiting that we had never met until this summer. He has gotten on great with everyone and has fit right in with the family, especially my sis and our other cousin. I ultimately feel as though I'm no longer a brother to my sister, and that I'm some foreign family member. When I don't see my cousins, I'm okay, but as soon as we all get together for a family meal or something, I truly realise where I stand. I feel like me choosing not to drink and the fact that I'm shy and have social anxiety to a degree, really defines me, at least in their eyes. I'm not sure I'll ever be close with my sister again, or any of my cousins for that matter. I could go on and on, but I suppose what I'm saying is I'm an outsider, and while it may not be something that is at all pleasant, it is definitly more common than one might think.