Life is either painful or dull, use social media and food to numb myself

[GoldReindeer]

I live in a pretty chaotic household, lots of arguments and poor mental health, a parent with (most likely) NPD too. I'm an adult child living with parents and adult siblings, for context.

I need to move out and that will happen early next year, but in the mean time I'm struggling. I spend most of my time on social media or comfort eating to distract myself, when I get pulled into the present moment it's so painful to see how life has turned out. I feel quite disengaged with life, distracted and dissociated. I have two other adult siblings - one is completely housebound due to anxiety and one who spends as little time as possible at home and uses alcohol to numb themselves. My parents distract themselves too, often with TV, social media, spending money they/we don't have on things they/we don't need.

I have a job which is a source of happiness, and individually I get on with all of my family members but there is this pervasive unhappiness and isolation.

Does anyone have any suggestions or coping mechanisms I can use to tide me over until I move out?

Exercise, meditation, reading.

You sound depressed. Would you talk to your GP? I’d fast track moving out.

Sorry you’re feeling so low

Can you spend some time in the evening saying I'll cook, escape to the kitchen, good music on the radio, cook a wholesome but yummy dinner, thinking roast chicken with trimmings, eat together, tidy up, escape for a bath, to bed with a book.

Have quality time with your family without disengaging, refuse to be drawn in to their social media chats, "Don't know them" "you can't believe anything you see on Instagram/Facebook"

Basically just carve out the interaction of your family you love and ignore/rebound the other bits.

I had very similar situation up until 5 years ago. The only thing that worked for me was spending as much time as possible out of the house. Work/gym/friends house/night out etc specifically staying away from the rest of the “family”
And as pp suggested don’t pick them up on their negative chats- or I would say - “no haven’t a clue” and walk on.

Right now I'm hiding in my room, headphones playing loud music as my Dad is in a bad mood, and when he's in a bad mood the whole house is affected. I feel so anxious and on edge. I went for a walk and nearly accidentally stepped out into the road when a car was coming, just feel so distracted lately.

My life/world is very, very small outside of my family. It's hard when the fog lifts and you see how sad it all is.

I will write a list of things to do that aren't unhealthy coping mechanisms. I like the idea of planning out evenings (e.g. with cooking, a bath, reading a book, etc). Thank you.