How do you deal with the need to escape social situations?

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I hope I worded that correctly. Since Christmas Day all I've wanted to do is lock myself away and have nothing to do with anybody (More so than normal!). I went to work today, and my job is customer based (I work in sales) and I was completely switched off mentally. I got a customer who was swearing and cursing at me and my mind just went into shut-down. So how do you keep carrying on? I just can't seem to collect my thoughts in that situation, let alone approaching customers to make a sale. When I get home all I want to do is sleep, then the cycle starts again. I don't understand how people engage in conversation, I get put in the scenario but it just doesn't flow.

I suggest that with some training you could come to not feel the need to escape social situations.

It sounds like you are dealing with the effects of stimulation overload. One way to cope is what you are doing now; switching off. Trip the fuse breaker. The processing unit chokes, the brain is saturated with information that it can't process effectively. This is not done consciously, and it is usually not desirable, especially when you are called upon to do stuff.

Another way is to learn to use your mind to integrate and process your sensory experiences more effectively. This one takes training.

Here's what I recommend.

1. Concentration meditation. Learning to sustain focused attention on what is relevant and allowing what is irrelevant to go on in the background without trying to process it. This is the one that will allow you to 'collect your thoughts' in the field of day to day situations, even when fatigued.

2. Relaxation techniques. A stressed body/mind will be in a hyper aware state that is designed for life or death, fight or flight situations. This is a very intense state and is not a sustainable mode of operation.

Combined therapy; sit comfortably in a quiet, dark or gently lit place. Set 10-15 minutes on a timer. Set aside this time for meditation only. Bring your attention to your breathing, the rise and fall of your abdomen. Allow your breathing to become easy, slow and natural. When you are distracted by other thoughts, feelings or sensations, bring the attention gently back to the breathing abdomen. Do this once daily, or as often as you can. Routinely is good.

This practice will help you recover from stimulation overload, build attentional strength and endurance, and relax and refresh the body.

Carry the relaxed feeling and attentional power you build during meditation into the rest of your life.