< Intro | Feeling Good | Connection | Getting Out There >
Introduction
We all have times when we can feel lonely and isolated - for all kinds of reasons.
It can happen when you find it hard to be with other people - at home, at school or at the weekends. You might find yourself finding reasons to stay away from other people - missing school, gigs or parties.
Other times, it can happen because people seem to be avoiding you. You might have lost touch with friends and be finding it hard to make new ones.
Sometimes you might feel alone when you're around lots of people. It can feel as if there's a big glass wall between you and your friends that you just can't break. You might feel that people don't really know you, or as if you have to hide what's going on in your head.
You might feel isolated because other people just don't seem to understand what's going on for you - the depression, anxiety, paranoia, voices, visions or other worries. Talking to other people might be scary because you're worried that they'd laugh at you or make fun of you.
The good news is that there are ways of beating these feelings and connecting with other people. As alone as you may feel, lots of other people have been where you are now.
The next few pages include some ideas that can help you make a start:
- Feeling good about yourself
- Finding a connection with other people
- Getting out there again
< Intro | Feeling Good | Connection | Getting Out There >