Foster's case told as a parable.

To be fair, I've been deaf on my left side for about as long as I can remember. People say this has made my life harder.

Harder than what? To what other life that I have lived can I directly compare it to?

I'll admit it creates a dissimilar playing-field, but no different than picking a 1 against 3 fight against some kids with re-bar stuffed inside metal broom-handles. I've done plenty well enough alone.

Does this mean I have to try harder than others to get the same results? Maybe, but if I use the effort needed to achieve a given result as my personal baseline for effort expected of me, then how am I to tell if I am having more difficulty than others?

BTW, Vortexx, emotionally isolating yourself is a common coping-mechanism for stress. Biologically, it's the equivalent of the words DON'T PANIC in friendly pink letters on the cover of the Hitch-hiker's guide to the galaxy as a survival-mechanism. NOT being able to go emotionally numb in a crisis is the other end of the spectrum, to be emo 24/7.

Once whatever stress-trigger is gone long enough (incl. dietary issues), the emotion will probably hit you like a brick wall of dicks.