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Feeling lonely
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Hi, I am f 50. After migrating to Australia, I have been spending a lot of time for work for a living and I did not do much to make friends. Because of this, I don’t have many local friends and feel quite lonely lately. If I feel this way now, I am also afraid what would happen after my retirement. I know there are some clubs or activities but I have not had a courage to join them yet. Is it common?
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Hello Pink grapefruit,
Really sorry to hear that you are feeling lonely. Loneliness is pretty common and a universal human experience. Whether you're living alone or surrounded by people, feeling lonely is something we all go through at some point. Thanks for reaching out and sharing as loneliness is a serious issue that can take a toll on our physical and emotional well-being.
I can understand how you feel as I also migrated to Australia a very long time ago. The hardest part was to leave family and childhood friends and start from scratch making new friends etc.
Please remember loneliness is not a permanent thing and you can try lot of things to help you feel better. Connecting with others online or face-to-face can be an excellent way to help you feel less alone.
If I may ask, do you have any family or support groups with whom you can talk to openly and share your feelings? You can also try re-connecting with your old friends. As you have mentioned, you can try joining your local clubs, library or community centre where you might meet people with similar interests.
You can do Volunteering too which can give you a sense of purpose and make you feel good about yourself by focusing on helping others. It can also open up new experiences and people, which can help you expand your social circle.
It's always difficult to take the first step but I am sure, once you start you will feel much better and happier.
If you are feeling lonely all the time, please seek professional help as they can provide the tools and skills to better cope with your feelings.
Please remember you are not alone - I am always here to listen and support if you feel like chatting more...
Take care
Happylife
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