It is an honest question with zero subtext. You’re free to mock me if you want but the post is intended for honest and sincere discussion about people’s lives.

And is that typical in the culture you’re from?

That’s a pretty unusual upbringing! How do you feel about it now that you’ve grown up? Are you a Wiccan yourself?

For sure. And just to be 100% clear: child welfare needs to be our top priority at all times and in all places, with no exceptions. Lemmy is international and multicultural though and the post is already producing thoughtful and responsible discussion based on lived experience.

I’m happy for mods to remove the post or even to remove it myself if the discussion becomes toxic or unsafe.

What do other people in your area do?

How do you not meet people? Even if you’re stuck in front of a computer all day you can go out to a pub or something at the weekend. Put yourself in a social environment and be friendly. It sounds like you even have experience of that from school and uni.

I don’t have a problem with the words - I have a problem with them getting appropriated and destroyed by corporates.

Meeting people is much possible in the real world.

I can happily deep focus almost indefinitely, including putting off eating but only if I’m really interested in doing something. I can also doggedly persevere with something I feel like I ought to do but become progressively more depressed doing it. I’m starting to think I may have something like ADHD but need to look into it a bit more.

My advice to you is to listen to yourself. If you’re reaching a limit of how much time you want to spend on something take a break from it. You’ll get more done that way and your learning will probably be more effective. Or it may even be worth reassessing whether you really want to do it at all. It’s fine (and very important IMHO) to refine & update your goals to ones that suit you better. You might be tempted to beat yourself up about being a ‘quitter’ but it will be better.

Sail forth and find your dopamine :)