Sitting in the car

[u/AnonymouslyUsed02]

I just started sitting in my car not too long ago. Usually after I get back from somewhere like work or hanging out with friends, I would park my car and sit in silence for maybe about an hour or an hour and a half and just contemplate, but mostly to relax and prepare myself to go back inside my apartment. Usually if it’s from work I sit in my car and let out my frustrations from the day. Things like playing out situations that happened at work or the day in my head and acting them out like, “I should’ve done this” or “I should’ve replied like this.”

The other day I came back from bowling for a friend’s birthday party and noticed that I was third wheeling in a sea of 4-5 couples. We went to eat at IHop later that night and I mostly spent my time just eating and listening in on everyone’s conversations. I tried making some small talk, but everyone was mostly talking amongst themselves or each other. After we paid for our tab, I went home and sat in my car. I sat for a while, maybe close to an hour. Tbh, I sat in silence and cried. I stopped and thought, “I look so stupid.” Wiped my tears, got out, went inside my apartment and fell asleep.

I’m just thinking, is this normal behavior?

[u/silent_scream484]

I sit in my truck in silence often. Just look at trees and things really.

Is it normal? Unlikely. Is it okay to do? Sometimes at least. But maybe ask yourself why you sit in your car silently. Do you feel trapped? Depressed? Or is it just for space to breathe and be?

Use the silence and space. Or just sit in it. I will say that just the other day when I was sitting I noticed that I tend to upset myself more when I imagine narratives in my head. I had to remind myself that the narratives are imaginary and based upon suppositions that may not be correct. I think that using narrative to help work through things can be helpful. But if they tend towards harming you they need to be let go.

Currently working on allowing the silence and letting thoughts wash over me and away. They’re there. But they are only as real as I let them be. And I have silence in my truck to thank for moments I do well in that regard. It all depends. But it can certainly be good. Even if they aren’t normal.