Most people need balanced social companionship and solitude. Some kids and adults obsessively avoid social contacts and "keep to themselves." Possible reasons for this are (a) their human environment (like an abusive or chaotic  household) causes them significant distress, and/or (b) their ruling personality subselves feel major shame, guilt, sadness, alienation, loneliness, and/or anxiety around some or all other people.

    When either or both conditions are true, a devoted Guardian subself may take control of the personality (disable the resident  true Self) to minimize the discomfort of one or more Inner Children. This well-meaning Loner subself may insist that solitude and self-reliance is safer than filling other subselves' competing needs for friendship, love, support, and social belonging.

    Typical reclusive kids and adults are (a) survivors of low-nurturance child-hoods, and (b) are significantly wounded and unaware of how to heal their wounds and fill their social needs effectively. Project 1 in this non-profit Web site offers perspective, options, and resources to help motivated people reduce their wounds effectively and live more comfortably in society.