Needing to be alone?

[Laura]

I find that I get very tense and agitated if I am around people a lot and if I interact with people too much in one day. Also I get racing paranoid thoughts that make me want to do repetitive soothing stuff to alleviate but then I feel more self-conscious if people see me doing those things. SI helps but I also get worried that people can tell either if it shows or if they can tell by my face or my thoughts. And I can't get to sleep when the thoughts are bad.

Does anyone know a polite and plausible reason to tell people that you just want to be by yourself?

I'm asking this right now because I am going away tomorrow for a few days (work-related trip), and will be staying at the home of a colleague in another city. He's nice, but I don't know him well and I've not met his wife before. I'm scared that I will be around people all day at the workplace and then all evening with him and his wife and I will end up acting really weird or saying or doing something wrong that seems rude.

Any ideas much appreciated. Thanks
Laura

[Quiet little Angel]

one thing i find works is headaches... or tiredness... but actually most people don't get offended if you say you'd just like to be alone for a while... like if you'd want to go for a walk by yourself or something, just say it... most people respect that...

hope you figure it out...

[balletomane]

When you're at work, could you say that you have some reading/grading/etc. to do? That could give you a chance for some alone time. Along the lines of what Quiet little angel suggested, you could say you're tired and want to get to bed early.

I hope your trip goes well.