Loneliness... What choices are there?

[demonblaster]

Loneliness is one of the cruelest underestimated places to be in life. Most of us need people.

This is all too common & wayyyy too many suffer this.

What's out there to help people?

Forums is a good place for many that are shy or depressed and not comfortable face on.

Excercising outside, amongst people, eye contact often connects a smile with people. Lifting

Here & assuming other places in Oz there's through community centres volunteers that visit, take shopping, talk, listen etc or phone calls weekly. (GP would know more)

Public transporting, around people, even if not engaged in convo, still amongst it

Interested hearing suggests

This shouldn't be

[bronte]

Hello all,

Rx I can hear you and relate to that killing time feeling..and the same, i dont want to be in this spot forever.. So i get up each day and try to be the best me, try take an interest in things even if i dont feel like it and wonder if this is "it".

Any ways,

Take care and hope your days are good

Bronte

[Speak Your Truth]

Hi Grandy and everyone

I said a few days ago I had a couple of ideas for you and since then I’ve been thinking from time to time of other things that might interest you. You said on your thread that you have tried “crocheting, knitting ... sewing” etc and it’s a pity you’ve turned off them as they can be a pleasure and very distracting for you too. Anyway, here are some other thoughts ...

In the App Store there are all sorts of things - you probably know that.

There is an app called Lumosity - it has all sorts of brain teaser type exercises. Also Brain HQ. There are other apps that are similar.

I like playing Classic Words - that’s a scrabble app.

There’s also Wood Puzzle And Word Brain

Perhaps you already do jigsaws and on-line colouring (Zen Colouring or Pigment ?) - also in the App Store

Do you know about the little gadget that plugs into your tv (or computer) called Chromecast ? You can buy it from JB HiFi, the Good Guys, Officeworks etc. With Chromecast you download the ABC and/or SBS apps and there are all sorts of things to watch on your tv/computer - the process is called ‘casting’ - SBS has a huge range of movies, documentaries, music videos etc etc. Not all you will want to watch of course but there will be a lot to suit you. You can also ‘cast’ from YouTube. There are other places too you can cast from

Have you ever wanted to renovate a piece of furniture or something smaller in wood ? There would be things at your op shop perhaps that you could renovate. There’s a lot of pleasure and satisfaction to be had by sanding wood, banging in a few nails, using a screwdriver and painting. Maybe you could paint a wall in your house.

Another thing I thought of was you might like to write a little book or two - perhaps stories that children might like, or a story about someone living the sort of life that you would like to live. I don’t mean that it would be something you would want to get published - LOL - but just things for yourself where you could let your imagination run wild, expressing thoughts on paper (or on your computer) that you don’t get to say to anyone in real life. Maybe poetry might work for you.

If I think of anything else I’ll let you know Grandy.

Thinking of you Grandy with love 💕 and everyone else with love 💖 too, Cala

[Ggrand]

Hello Cala, Deebi, Bronte,

Thank you Cala for those suggestions, I do have Alphabetty it's a word game app, I'll give the others a try, I used to play scrabble a long time ago, I like word games as well as card games..

My tv is around 12 years old, it doesn't have access to computers..I'm not sure if the Chromecast will fit on my to.. My computer isn't connected to internet atm...

I do like writing short fantasy stories but lately I can't get myself their...My mind won't let me get that peaceful feeling I get when I go into fantasy..I will keep trying...

Today, even here on the forums is lonely...sigh...My dogs don't want to be inside either with me....

Maybe a DVD tonight. ..

Grandy......

[bronte]

Hi Grandy, Cala, Deebi, Randomx and everyone,

I can relate to your feelings Grandy. I use my phone mainly for the internet and play online word games on there.

Coming up to the weekend.. I get the same old empty feeling. Ill try to get out both days even if just for a walk.

Have you got into your crochet Grandy?

Take care,

Bronte 🙂

[demonblaster]

Grandy, Bronte, Random, Speak your truth and everyone else that's contributed here thank you. I'll bbl (be back later) to reply and update near future is the plan Stan.

Expanding on liking ourselves which commonly we don't if we experience MH/Illness issues and of course some people contribute to us not liking ourselves. Who's to say they're right. Depression! - low self esteem.
It's within us to change this.

Some ways I'm learning to do this is and slowly getting better in my own company is if someone compliments you be open to thinking objectively is this true. In my experience people usually don't offer compliments unless they mean it. (other reasons too of course)

Another way is allowing yourself to look from outside in, find your good points, I believe we all have them. Depression likes to convince us otherwise. Mindfulness is a worthwhile habit to practice.
Thread: Mindfulness what is it? (Search bar top R) of pages.

If we're aware of our not so good points by working on those too we can like ourselves more. Less for depression to hyper focus on.

If we're ok in our own company... it surely should help with loneliness and in the process help lift depression and create confidence in ourselves to venture out amongst it. Win win.

Peace wished for everyone. It is achievable with belief in ourselves.

[demonblaster]

Hi all ☺

It's not face on but maybe Pen pal to some people. Could help other lonely people too. GP may know of people that would enjoy some contact.

Visiting elderly in nursing homes or hone.

Hope your days are improving 🐧

[demonblaster]

Hi all 😊 again thanks for excellent input.

This can apply for anyone whether introverted/extrovert as they're I'm assuming anonymous for members.

If you have an interest and not comfortable or able to access groups physically there are many on line forums for different interests.

Recently I was with a family member who spends time on a gardening site that not only has pictures that anyone can put up also forums or chat area which can be company from the comfort of home and possibly up to individuals that can meet up down the track.

Another our dear Grandy was mentioning about games on PS2 etc that I don' t know a great deal about but they can also be played with real people or computers.

I played for a while a word game, commonly known and you don't have to play strangers if you prefer you can play either people you know or the Internet

IT's not face on but there's also chat sections and it's being in touch if that choice is made to play with actual people.

Not sure if I mentioned this before but heard again about cafes sorry a bit sketchy on details but could be tracked through internet that have sections for people wanting to meet others. Basically you go and sit down and chat with someone in these specific seats or tables.
Not for everyone I realise but a great idea I think for those interested. A friend saw this not long ago on one of the current affair shows. I think it's mainly in cities at this stage. Good thing is it's in public and people could come and go as they please.

MH (mental health) groups.
A GP or MH line can put you onto groups. One is called GROW, which are scattered throughout Australia NZ and some parts of the world, originally started in Oz to my understanding, which apart from being proactive to improving our lives also part of their structure, not sure of right wording they promote contact from members and outings weekly which can or not be attended.
The good thing about these type of groups, I'm a member of another MH group is we're amongst people that have an understanding of deep pain and the problems we all face.

Hope life's throwing some goods and this year turns into a better one and a lot less loneliness out there would be a great thing.

Take care 💙

[Ggrand]

Hey Deebi....

I was going through some older threads and found this one...I re-read through the comments so many good ideas...

I hope it’s okay with you Deebi....if I bump this thread up...as I’ve seen many new threads on loneliness...and thought maybe that the ideas on here just may help someone....with loneliness...

Grandy...

[Guest_4643]

Yep, loneliness is a killer. I suffer from it myself. I feel like the only person in the world who is lonely and doesn't have 1 single friend & family member, apart from parents.

[smallwolf]

hi mb20lover.... I posted in your other thread (I hope you find it). You are correct with your statement about loneliness. Do you have any interests or hobbies?