Why do I feel like hiding?

I have a habit of emotionally "hiding". When I'm in this state, it's usually because something has made me anxious and I can't find a way to solve the situation. For example, I just received my registration letter from the high school I attend indicating details for when to register. This made me very anxious because it's my last year and everything is on the line. I tried to calm myself by planning out the day of registration, step by step, and packing my bookbag with some of the materials I need. When that didn't work, I booted my computer and loaded up an episode of my favourite children's tv show and then another ... and another ..

Usually when I'm in this "hiding" state, I choose a children's tv show .. something involving magic or takes place in another world & something familiar, snack on food while watching, and wish I was a kid. I feel comforted, warm, and safe (from feeling stable). Another thing I'd like to mention is that when I watch the show, I don't listen like an outsider watching, it's more like I'm there...

I also like to sit for hours and hours doing nothing but just imagining. I feel like I can just block out everything and just "hide", which I know is not the case.

The main thing I would like you to consider is that it all feels okay. It feels like i'm not doing anything ... peculiar ..
until I step outside, and see that nobody does this & 2 months have gone by. It's not depression, i don't think it is.

[tschock]

You would not believe the amount of people that "hide away" when they feel a bit stressed.

When I was younger, I would stand in front of a mirror and talk to myself in order to try and
figure things out...like if I had to tell a friend that her boyfriend was cheating on her...I would talk to myself in the mirror and picture myself standing there talking to her...I would lose myself in that conversation until someone, or some noise, would interrupt.

My oldest son does what you do...he gets absorbed in things from his childhood...games, tv shows, music...anything that reminds him of when he was young.

His doctor told him that this was a normal reaction from anxiety/stress/depression.

My son is on a low dosage anti-depressant now, and it seems to help him quite a bit.

Please keep in mind, that if you think you're "crazy" then you aren't. People that suffer
true afflictions rarely know that they do...such as schizophrenia...which makes it hard
for them to get the help they need, because they feel that they don't have a problem.
My ex sister-in-law is schizophrenic...she believes that it's the rest of the world that
has a problem, and not her...they cannot force her to take meds, and she won't take them because "she doesn't have a problem".

In your case you realize that you can't hide. You know that you can't run from your problems, and you know what you are doing...it's not like you're doing this and other people are telling you what you are doing and you're not believing them...you are coherent of what it is you are doing and what you have done...this shows me that there is nothing really wrong with you.
I'm not saying that you don't have anxiety/depresssion/stress...I'm just saying that you are able to deal with it in a way that helps you.
Whatever helps you to stay in tune ( aside from illegal or immoral things) is good.
If hiding away helps you, then by all means continue to hide away...but not forever or for long...and always remember that you need to return and to deal with your problems.
Go ahead and watch your shows...but make sure that you face reality as soon as you can.
If your imagination starts to take over your life then you need to seek help.
IF you are going into these "episodes" for 2 months at a time, this is not healthy...you need to get out and about. See your doctor if you start to miss school because of this...this would indicate a major problem.

I would think it's more along the lines of anxiety issues, as you're hiding away so that you
don't have to deal with things.
Like I said, if it becomes bothersome/starts taking over your life ( missing school, avoiding people) then see your doctor...there are many meds out there that can help with this.