Why do I feel like I am not a normal person?
There are several reasons.First of all, no one truly knows what a normal person is or does. We know what most people supposedly do, at least what we see them do, but that’s all. There is no way to know what they do in private.Second, there are nearly 7.5 billion people on this planet. Think about that number for a second. They all have much more in common than what they don’t: they all eat, sleep, poop, cry, work, play, die eventually. All of that stuff is definitely normal, and I’m betting you fit into the same categories.Third, I am betting you are trying to judge whether or not you are “normal” by looking at the cultural habits of those around you: what music they listen to, what they wear, phrases they use, the things they seem to like or dislike. You liking different stuff is not only normal, it’s healthy. If people consider you odd or different and seem to look down on you for it, they are mean and small-minded.If you think you are not normal because you are having violent or destructive thoughts towards yourself or others, you should definitely talk to a medical professional. But my guess is that you are young and don’t seem to have all the habits or things that other young people around you do. If this is the case, remember that everyone is different and finds out who they are at a different speed. Be patient.And if by some chance you are truly different and eccentric than those around you—thank you! The world would be a very boring place if everyone was the same. Imagine 7.5 billion Barbies and Kens all dressed in gray jumpsuits. No old ladies wearing purple and gold hats, no weird city-chicken-keepers, no hippies, no huge guys wearing pounds of gold chains, no Bob Ross the painter. What a sad, dull world it would be. Be different and be proud of it.
I know I'm not normal. How do I hide it and act normal?
Paradoxically, this feeling of “not being normal” is one of the most common and normal reactions to our existing social reality. (?!?)I do not know the standard and official answers to “hiding it and acting normal” but do have a personal “coping response” that comes from my profession (that of computer behavior and software): I think of this as a problem of “emulating a normal person in real time”.When a software team is creating (for example) a payroll system, it is often more productive to think of this task as not just creating payroll system software, but rather as making the general purpose computer emulate (as perfectly as possible) a specific purpose “payroll calculating machine” in real time.Accordingly to hide my dysfunctions and “act normal” I constantly ask myself “what would a normal person do right now, confronted with this situation?”. As a background task, I observe, note, and remember the responses of those I regard as normal, nice people. Then I use that Question and my observations to “emulate a person in real time”. This is a slow and often rough, jerky solution, but it works. Most people I know think of me as a nice, normal guy.If they only knew that I write Quora answers when no one is around to see me do this terrible thing… ;-)
Is it normal that I hate people and just want to be alone all day?
It's not uncommon, but it can be harmful if you take it to extremes. In my early twenties I also wanted to be alone all the time. I don't hate people, I just found them to be exhausting and I was always entertained in my own company. I just never felt lonely I guess. After a few years of isolating myself, I started developing social anxiety. I felt like it was harder to connect with people, and I couldn't socialize in that effortless way everyone else seemed too. That resulted in further isolation and depression. You will get lonely. It just takes some people years. I'm currently trying to work in maintaining old friendships that I've abandoned over the years. I don't know if I'm a typical case, but I do know it's mentally harmful to isolate yourself. Why do you hate people? Not everyone needs to be your best friend. It gets easier.
Is it normal to not want a girlfriend, still be straight, don't want kids, and overall just want to explore life alone with just friends?
I wouldn’t worry about whether it’s ‘normal’ or not, since normal is relative and somewhat arbitrary anyway - there aren’t any legal consequences or otherwise for staying single, after all.Marriage/kids etc isn’t for everyone - I’m very similar to you, in that I’ve had several relationships but have finally realised it’s not my cup of tea, and I’ve never, ever wanted to have children (I even feel really annoyed when people tell me I’ll “change my mind” as if it’s an absolute dead cert. I don’t hate kids, but honest to gods I’d sooner do a DIY hysterectomy with plastic picnic cutlery than have any of my own. I wouldn’t even adopt).Anyone saying it’s not a good thing doesn’t really understand why; too many people go along with the status quo of having the partner/kids/house routine and don’t even question it until they see someone purposely not doing it.It just sounds like you’re a very independent person who knows his own mind, and in my book that’s an excellent thing! Live for yourself and just take things as they come.
Is it normal to feel like you are faking your mental illness?
Oddly, at least with depression and anxiety, it is very common. It’s ironic that you wonder if you are “faking”, as opposed to just wondering if you are really ill. Notice the accusatory tone you take with yourself. That is a classic symptom of depression. Here is why it happens:The Voice in Your Head. Depression distorts your thinking and makes you believe that you are fundamentally flawed. Your brain turns against you and distorts, exaggerates, and lies with impunity. Making you wonder if you are faking your illness is an easy way to send you into a tailspin of confusion and self-recrimination that it will happily use. It will always tell you that your depression and anxiety are your own fault. It’s like an abusive spouse saying it’s your fault he hit you.The Voices of Society. Even after all of the exposure depression has gotten over the past few years, people who have not experienced it still find it difficult to understand and relate to. Most of the time, even when in a major episode, you still appear to be functioning. You may do less than usual; you may sleep more than usual; you may avoid people so they won’t see, but most people will not notice, particularly if you are purposely hiding it. Often, when you finally tell people you are depressed, they are shocked. They try to convince you that you’re just sad or down, that everyone has days like that and you will get over it. Your mind will happily jump in to tell you that they are right and that you’re just weak or exaggerating or all-out lying.Depression is not All or Nothing. Even during a major depressive episode, you can still have moments of clarity. When that happens, it can make you think that you made it all up. You think you can’t really be ill if you can feel completely normal, however fleeting. But that really is the nature of it.I cannot say that no one has ever faked a mental illness. If your question had said, “I faked a mental illness, and now I don’t know what to do,” this would obviously be a different answer. But worrying about whether you are is a pretty common symptom of the illness. I would take that worry off your plate, and give yourself time and space to heal.
Does imagining randomly what my funeral would be like not normal? Does it mean I will die?
Once or twice I have randomly imagined if I passed away would people miss me and what my funeral would be like. Maybe what would happen if my school had one for me and how people would react if they found out. I think it could be nothing and im probably over thinking it I just want to know if its normal or not to imagine this? I dont want to die and Im not depressed either i actaully really love life. Could this be brought on by the two funerals I had to attend this year due to loosing 2 loved ones? It also just plain freeks me coz i think im a little physic. Help me please