It’s interesting how even as a kid, I had limits for socialization that I couldn’t verbalize. I remember on the rare occasion a friend would come over, getting this growing tension inside, a sensation of “I want them to leave” that would build up until after they’d gone. Then the sense of relief when they left, oh that relief was so sweet.

Sleepovers were tough. Sure, they were fun, but by the time morning came around I just wanted everyone to GTFO and leave me be. I wasn’t taught how to communicate that need (saying something would be “rude” and that’s all I was taught), so I’d just feel increasingly stressed until everyone went home.