No friends

[Illbeok]

Whenever I read articles or books about mental health, "talking to your family and friends is one of the keys for better mental health" and moreover it's often suggested people who have no friends are more likely to be unhappy and become depressed, and have poor health. I feel like I'm in this category of people who are helpless and destined to have depression and other illnesses. I don't know what to do and I feel so isolated. I immigrated to Australia when I was 30 and now I'm 50 with no friends, no close family. I have social anxiety and I've been having episodes of depression (trying hard to tame it every day), have mostly recovered from anorexia, but I'm having PTSD now from an assault / loss of my sister. I have anxiety attacks and other typical PTSD episodes with additional anxiety about having a serious depression and anorexia.  Please help.

[Illbeok]

Hello and thank you so much for your reply. I am still struggling but there are some times that I can feel less hopeless. I do have a hobby (programming / making apps) and do feel happier when I manage to focus on it but it is hard to motivate myself when I feel like being engulfed by loneliness and anxiety. I cannot walk / hike much due to some injuries but keep looking for suitable Meetups and I really appreciate your kind words and practical advice.

[randomxx]

Hi there op and very sorry about for the way things have been feeling. lt must be a huge thing moving countries but if any consolation people go through all this stuff in whatever country as also so many others right here around bb to, self included.

lt's also the pandemic of the age we live these days, the century, with everything online instead of out somewhere, even our movies, games or whatever we do, the forums and fb's. Anxiety,loneliness, it's all of the charts as never in history but l say well ofc it is and sadly all that hasn't even begun so it's all the more reason we need to offset it.

So me, l do my best to make sure l get out there instead as much as l can to compensate, it really helps. Anything outdoor away from screens hobby, or even just a wander, parks, nature, beach, anything, as long as it's back out into the real world, even with anxiety, bit of a push it does get easier and easier and eventually gets you home and lifted spirits .

Can you do shopping and stuff like that, l find even as a bloke, that hates shopping actually btw to but the getting out and around people in shopping, interactions, the wandering about, also really picks me up. Same to the drive or walk to it.

Take care

rx

[randomxx]

ps, mind you, l still have way to much time alone, and l'm temperately [hopefully] , in a new town atm and know not a soul , plus have just broken up from a 7yr relationship, buttttt all that sort of stuff above is even moreso my savior right now.

rx