Posted by Quintal on April 4, 2008, at 16:16:00
My social worker just left me the email address of another guy who had a psychotic episode recently, and is also exploring possible spiritual interpretations. She thinks we may be on the same wavelength, and if so maybe we could be friends or even form a support group for similar-minded people in this area. At the moment there are no support groups, and access to talking therapies is very much restricted - waiting lists of over a year are commonplace. So people are basically stranded and isolated once they leave the psychiatric hospital. It seems 'people who experience psychosis' have difficulty forming and maintaining friendships, and the resulting isolation makes them even more likely to relapse.
Anyway, I'm really nervous about initiating contact with this guy. He's my age, but that doesn't mean we'll have anything in common - I'm a pretty strange person and I'm not very sociable at the best of times. I just don't know what to say. I don't even know if he really wants to talk to me. Maybe he's just been pushed into this by his care worker like I have? It could be awkward. Still, I suppose it's less embarrassing than being forced to meet face-to-face and struggling to keep the conversation going. Any social butterflies among you have good advice? I don't suppose this is a situation one encounters very often, but still, any adivce would be appreciated.
Q
poster:Quintal
thread:821581
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080321/msgs/821581.html