Loneliness

Hey @Peppapig

I can really relate to your post. I live alone and have no partner. Technically I do have 2 friends, but they fit me into their schedules at their convenience which is not that often. So I do get lonely too. I think it is really great that you are putting yourself out there with the volunteering. I sometimes fill my need for social interaction with lots of little interactions, like I have found online groups that meet via zoom occasionally. That might be an option. The app Meetup has some online groups (as well as face to face). And I will often attend the chat groups on this forum, I believe Thursday and Sunday nights. Maybe something to look out for?

Hi @Peppapig it sounds like things are feeling really hard right now

I can relate to those fears of grief if a pet dies, when I first adopted my cats I was so terrified of something happening to them and having to go through that pain. I still am scared of that day but it's gotten easier to manage in time. I understand your decision of not feeling able to keep the cat, hopefully it finds a new home soon.

I can hear that there are a lot of challenges to trying to find that connection, especially being in a small town, but I also notice how you're trying to overcome these by putting yourself out there in different ways. Volunteering is a great idea and it's good to hear that you have high hopes for the friendships that may come out of this.

Apart from volunteering, and visiting your mum and kids when you're able, what sort of things do you typically like to do that get you out of the house?

@Ainjoule Where can I find the online zoom chat groups? I tried meet up all group planning are in Sydney.

@Ru-bee I get lunch and eat at the park in summer and in the colder weather I get lunch and eat in store 🙂 I visit the library for the wifi. Or I go for a walk around the block sometimes listening to youtube music too.

Hey @Peppapig

I typed in "mental health" into the search bar, and yes it's set to Sydney....but some of the groups come up as "Online Event" over the image which means you can attend remotely, generally via Zoom.

@Peppapig if it’s any consolation Dating Apps have had their time and it’s over.

People want to connect through shared interests. Book Clubs, Wine Tasting, Tree Planting, Knitting Nanas, Women’s Sheds.

G

@Glisten Alot of man not looking for a long term relationship on the dating apps just fun or a one night stand. I googled womens shed here and there's a mans shed so that sucked. Maybe the library here has a book club but the last time I read a book was when I was 14 and it was the twighlight book before the first movie came out in cinema. It was back when I believed in vampires and wanted to be one so that I could look youthful forever and live forever. There's winery's in the next town over but I don't know if they do taste testing plus I'm 3 years sober this year.

@Peppapig you are 💯 % correct. That is the reason Dating Apps are no longer popular. People who want meaningful connections, will NOT be on a Dating App.

3 years of sobriety - SENSATIONAL 🎉 💪🏼

Do you support other people on their sobriety journey?

Do you sew, knit or crochet? Bushwalking?

Researching your family history at the local library.

Art classes at the local Community Art Gallery. TAFE courses.

Your Local Government, Shire Council will have a list of local organisations and community groups.

National Library of Australia needs online volunteers to correct text for scanned documents

https://trove.nla.gov.au/help/become-voluntrove/text-correction

G

I havnt met anyone yet who is also sober now but if I did meet someone who is I would definitely support them. I don't sowe or knit. There's no where to bush walk there's a river here but it's out of town and I walk. I'm assuming you'd have to pay for the art classes. Do I walk into the council and ask about community groups? @Glisten

@Peppapig nothing better than a good walk or a bike ride.

I hope that the City or Town Council would have all Community groups and organisations on their website.

The Local Government Councillor for your area would be able to email you this information.

Your State Member of Parliament will have an Electorate Office and the Electorate Officer should also be able to email the relevant information to you.