Loneliness Support Group
Loneliness is an emotional state in which a person experiences a powerful feeling of emptiness and isolation. Loneliness is more than the feeling of wanting company or wanting to do something with another person. Loneliness is a feeling of being cut off, disconnected and alienated from other people. The lonely person may find it difficult or even impossible to have any...
So, I've been dealing with poor health for a long time now, and thinking that I had to get healthy again before I can go out and try to make some new friends. But I was doing google searches today on how to boost the immune system, and one article talked about how social isolation and social stress can both depress the immune system. I live alone and have no job and I've been EXTREMELY isolated for awhile now, having lost my only friends last November and the loneliness has gotten pretty suffocating in the past week or so. So maybe this is part of why I am not getting over my health problems in spite of massive efforts to get better.
And now I'm thinking that for the sake of my health I must go out and at least try to make some friends. I'm sad, and have no confidence at all right now and I think it's going to be awkward and painful but I have to try.
So, money is a factor, as in, not wanting to spend a lot because I have no income. Of course everything costs money except for volunteer work. I'm thinking about that. My local senior center has some classes that aren't *too* expensive.
One article I read today suggested craigslist, so I checked out the "activities" page for my area and there were a couple of activities that looked really tempting. But I am very paranoid about safety. Is there any way to know which people on craigslist are reliable? If somebody I don't know on craigslist is advertising a group that meets in a home is it a good idea to go? Am I being too paranoid?
I also know about Meetup.com and there are a couple of groups on there that are possibilities. They're not ideal fits, but I can't be too choosy right now I guess.
I'd also LOVE to get any kind of counseling, but it's so expensive and I have no insurance.
I would be very grateful for any suggestions or advice on how a sad, lonely, completely-lacking-in-confidence person like me can get out there and actually connect with some people.
Thank you.
And now I'm thinking that for the sake of my health I must go out and at least try to make some friends. I'm sad, and have no confidence at all right now and I think it's going to be awkward and painful but I have to try.
So, money is a factor, as in, not wanting to spend a lot because I have no income. Of course everything costs money except for volunteer work. I'm thinking about that. My local senior center has some classes that aren't *too* expensive.
One article I read today suggested craigslist, so I checked out the "activities" page for my area and there were a couple of activities that looked really tempting. But I am very paranoid about safety. Is there any way to know which people on craigslist are reliable? If somebody I don't know on craigslist is advertising a group that meets in a home is it a good idea to go? Am I being too paranoid?
I also know about Meetup.com and there are a couple of groups on there that are possibilities. They're not ideal fits, but I can't be too choosy right now I guess.
I'd also LOVE to get any kind of counseling, but it's so expensive and I have no insurance.
I would be very grateful for any suggestions or advice on how a sad, lonely, completely-lacking-in-confidence person like me can get out there and actually connect with some people.
Thank you.
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I invited Bill to have dinner with me last Sunday. He wasn't willing to drive 7 hours to mid Michigan and teased me with his beautiful ribs!!! So, of course I ate alone and had cedar salmon
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check out that smoke ring. It tasted really good. I smothered it with Maulls BBQ sauce which is Local to St. Louis and one of the best I ever had.....
Going to the doctor again tomorrow so at least that will be some human contact, even if I have to pay for it. Hopefully he will be able to calm me down about my health problems and then I can focus on trying to get out there and meet somebody.
Thanks again.
Yes our mental health can surely affect our physical health.
I would look into the volunteer work and even the smallest items around your home can become an activity/an craft/an hobby to get involved with and the more activities you do,the more people you will be able to interact with who has the same interests as you.
I have heard too many bad stories about craigs list so I would check with your local area (online or in newspaper)for maybe church activities or other activities for your area
Thanks for your reply. So far everybody I've heard from has said no to craigslist, so I will forget about using them. I agree that hobbies can be good and I am looking for any group involving a hobby that interests me that meets in my area. The senior center might have something but they were closed today so I'll have to try them again later.
I'm also seriously considering volunteer work. I want to have at least one thing going by the end of this week.
You're right that our physical health is affected by our emotional health, so I need to overcome my fear and get serious about meeting some new people and trying to build a support system.
Thanks again :)
(2) will have written up some things about their interest/etc.
I haven't the money to manage a meetup; but if I advertized an unorthodox type group, I would have documentation..reference letters.... Ppl could go over me with a fine-tooth comb. And I would use a meeting room, such as one at the library.
It has been interesting to hear about the Craigslist things, but those ppl are lazy. . . . / . :(
I am wondering if volunteering at the local animal rescue group would be interesting to you? I joined as a volunteer at our humane society but I do not do much there...they had mostly standing or walking things to do...I cannot do that with my bad knees....I did just start to be a reader who reads to the dogs from the back side of the pens....I can read anything and spend any amount of time I want any dog I want or even cats...but I am allergic to cats...I did it a couple times and haven't gone back...mostly because it is a drive of about 8miles to the shelter...it costs my gas...
anyway meetup is way cool...I am an organizer on singles over 50 group here in STL MO....so I have fun..it costs me money but I did initiate dues to the group of $3 yr....you get 30 day trial then either pay up or lose use of our group...I have over 100members who have paid....before when no fees were in place I had almost 500 members but many never did anything but join the group...now people show up at events and have become friends....
I would not use CL...it has a reputation of being dangerous even on buying things from people...they rob u instead of selling something to you....people have been killed because of CL stuff....and no telling about rapes....I bet the ones involved in the dating scene there are skanks....disease laden people too....beware....
Volunteer work is another option. I'm not sure how religious you are, but church is another option.
I hope everything works out for you!
Bill, thanks for the positive comments on Meetup. I'll definitely try at least one group from there and see how it goes. I love animals so a local shelter is a good idea. I've also thought about elder care. I've never heard of volunteers reading to dogs before, but it makes sense. I'm sure the animals appreciate any kind of social contact. I guess I'm just worried that working at a shelter would make me want to take a bunch of the animals home. Is that how you got your dog?
PokermonKid, I agree that having a support system is important for health and for a good quality of life. My situation is complicated by the fact that I really want to move from this town, but it doesn't look like I'll be able to move anytime soon so in the meantime I should try to make some friends. Thanks.
I've sold stuff on Craigslist and have been weary about the people that respond. I always use my cell phone number. Depending on the product I'm selling I might meet people in a shopping center parking lot. That gets a little tough to find people but it is safer. As for meeting people through there I don't think that's a great idea.
A lot of people do Meetup. I just can't find one in my area that fits my needs so for now I have my friends on here.
Your initial second-through-fourth lines sound so much like the chicken or the egg quandary. Did isolation come first, with bein' sickly a result?, or is it the other way around ....
It caused me a big smile; thank you putting things the way you did.
I have a high opinion of a lot which Meetup is doing. My impression is any given group is special in itself ..(rather than having much in common w other gps). BillW may be able to correct me... .
Some Meetups i can imagine being organized /others a bit more sponteneous. Who knows what Meetup in your community -- among those having interests you have -- would have someone you'd hit it off with. . ?
BillW is it common for Meetups to use 'contact numbers'?