Hello Snowmaiden,

l am guessing here a little since your post does not go into detail, just a little hint,so apologies if l have it wrong.l am guessing that you are currently on a cancer journey which gives rise to your comments.This being the case l can recognise some of how you might be feeling.

Its the feeling that somehow you have stepped off of the normality that those around you enjoy, and that you no longer feel part of the group.Sub conciously you have removed yourself and placed yourself into a self imposed exile.

In my case for a time l needed to withdraw from the crowd to focus within myself to make sense and come to an understanding with a stage 4 diagnosis,,somehow the worldaround me was moving but l was stationary

l found l had to resolve my circumstances with myself before l was able to express my feelings to others.That did not come overnight and took the time for my mind to trawl through everything it had stored to the point of impossibility. So the realisation that l had to sort through and declutter any thoughts and feelings that no longer counted in a future l was determined to seek

So in answer to your final sentence, no its not normal,--- yes it is normal for someone who is having to deal with cancer, ---no its not good if you are a long way into a cancer journey,---but yes if you are at the beginning of that journey.

 l hope this reply makes some sense in regard to your current position,making sense for most people can be hard at first until they can find their way again, and as you rightly say we are all different and our minds can take alternative parhs to firmer ground.

My bowel surgeon said something that has stuck with me to this day after he removed my stoma and rejoined my bowel, "that will be your new normal" but that will apply to everyone who undergoes their own personal cancer journey.

l hope you travel well and go gently forward,

David