Over the last couple of years I have found that I absolutely hate talking to people. I can’t stand the sound of their voices and I can’t stand letting them fill my mind with their garbage ideas and thoughts that have no substance whatsoever, just superficial mindless chatter. People just love talking about themselves in minute detail, usually unprompted. People seem to use me as a sounding board. They make plans to see me so they can vent. In all of these situations I never seem to get a word out to talk about what I am thinking or feeling and on the rare occasion that I do, I get interrupted or spoken over almost immediately. Only one person lets me talk about what I want without interrupting me but I can’t help but feel guilty about talking so much and keep prompting them to say something.
Is this normal? Is it a phase? I have stopped socialising because I don’t want to be a sounding board, I just want some peace and quiet. What should I do?