Creating and Maintaining Social Connections - Continued!

Hi @Former-Member I think for me it’s boundaries. I struggle with that.

Self care tips snd tricks:

1. have a break from the forum

2. meditate

3. listen to music

4. go out in garden

Thanks @Former-Member for starting this thread Last nights discussion was a great one - I know I got a lot out of it.

Boundaries is a really good one @BlueBay. Putting in place those boundaries and following through with them is the hardest obstacle I feel ...but they are super important to both build and maintain connections of any form whether it be family, friends or aquaintances - and that also goes for both online and off line connections.

@BlueBay Spot on I hear you with that one. Boundaries can be very tricky to manage, especially if we're naturally empathic people. I think it's great you have these self-care strategies to turn to

So glad you so much out of last night's Topic Tuesday @Zoe7 :D!

Heyyyyy @Former-Member, thanks for starting this thread

Hello @Former-Member, @Zoe7, @BlueBay, @Bunniekins

I find it is hard , I do not have any friendship outside the forum

My husband has depression , anxiety , inherited depression . Bipolar11 which my friends have all disappeared

I do keep in touch with family on facebook and messager

but my family do not fully understand but they keep in touch with me

Hi @Former-Member and everyone, last night's Topic Tuesday was a good one, and really appreciate you putting it on for us. Glad this discussion has started too. Not able to respond much more than that just now, but wanted to post so I get notifications of any future posts here.

I really appreciate Topic Tuesdays.

It's the one time that I feel I have a lot to offer.

I get a lot out of them, especially when it's a topic that I can relate to.

Maintaining healthy boundaries is really important, especially when coming from a family that had no healthy boundaries.

I'm still working on it, even after 30 years (& on being assertive too).

Adge

I don't have friendships outside in the real world. The thing is I prefer animals to people mostly and I tend to find people I like to hang out with online. Friendships in the real world require a level of commitment which I am not able to give at the moment anyway (I think due to my mi).

Hopefully that will change in the future...

Thanks @Former-Member for the thread.

Personally when I was in my biggest pit of depression I lost contact with all my friends & social contacts. I would tell myself if I got all my household chores done then I could x,y & z catch up with a friend etc. Because I was chronically fatigued and lacked motivation it got to the point that I never got out.

Now my main priority each week (which is extremely selfish )is trying to go for a walk each day & I have 2 meet ups for an hour or 2 max with different social groups, which unless I’m sick I go, I have learned if there’s dishes still on the sink, washing not done after catching up with friends I always feel heaps better & get them done quicker when I come home.

In the beginning when I started going to my social groups I really struggled with anxiety & just wanted to vomit all morning, panic before I went, but I persisted & made some great connections 6 months down the track & I now look forward to it.

Starting from scratch with no friends or social connection was hard I looked at my local council & library web pages, “what’s on this week” & church outreach programs It’s surprising how much stuff there is for free or gold coin donations.

I learned the hard way

(suffering from phycosis at my worst) my mental health is more important than anything else, If I don’t look after myself I can’t properly care for others.

Its still a daily uphill battle !!

Good idea @Former-Member to keep the discussion going. Hi @Bunniekins @Adge @Mazarita @Former-Member @Zoe7 @Bunniekins @BlueBay @Shaz51

I feel like the barriers to social connections are often within me... self stigma, feelings of being not good enough, undeserving etc. Fortunately I dont feel that with the forum, but irl is another matter.