At CPSI, I gave a keynote speech about emotional regulation. Emotional self-regulation, which is facilitated by Creative Problem Solving, brings you out of the amygdala (your primitive/survival brain — fight, flight, freeze, fawn, flop, friend) and shifts you into the prefrontal cortex where you can problem solve.
We disconnect from the world to protect ourselves. But disconnection will only ever be a temporary solution, a placeholder. At some point, you will have to connect and deal with things if you want to move forward and grow and thrive. Another consequence of disconnecting from the world and from difficulties is that we also disconnect from good feelings and from the power that lives in those good feelings.
Joy awaits in connection.
Give yourself the moments of reprieve and the rest that you need, and also understand that in connection you will be your strongest, most joyful self.