As an introvert, I have this peculiar behavior. It’s also how I manage stress

Sometimes I can’t stand the presence of any people around me, not even my close family members. Even if I have my own space — say a room that I can lock — it’s not enough for me to feel complete seclusion if there are other people around. Yes, I need complete seclusion. Seclusion, isolation, solitude, separation, withdrawal, privacy. All these different words have slightly different colors. I want all of the colors of being alone, with myself only.

So I get into my car, drive a few miles, park in a random place, recline my seat, and doze off to sleep. And if it’s not sleep, it’s a semi-alert state where I switch off. I’ve done it for decades. It doesn’t have to be an escape from home. Let’s say I have a meeting. After being with people — even if it was a good meeting — I often feel drained. So I head for my escape.

No one knows where I went and parked. It’s best if my place of escape is unfamiliar even to me. For example, I wouldn’t choose a plaza where I buy my groceries.

This is when I feel truly at peace. There is just me. I’m cozy. I don’t mind the sights and sounds of the world outside — cars, people, and whatever weather. I am aware of the world outside, and it’s almost a pleasant feeling. The world goes on. I don’t require total silence or isolation. That would be a little too extreme. Still, temporarily, I need a space where no one — absolutely no one — can reach me.