Posted by Racer on March 4, 2006, at 1:32:25
In reply to Re: How did you go about building a support system?, posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 4, 2006, at 0:56:00
I'm also struggling with this. Some ideas that I've come up with:
1. Church. I haven't been to church in years -- my church did something that I couldn't support, and it colored my view of the Church of Scotland, and I didn't want to walk into just any church. Now I'm thinking it's time to find a church here, for the community. Mind you, I still have the same problem -- I don't want to find myself in another church with similar views. But, it can be a good way to join an existing community, with community supports.
2. Classes. I don't know that I'd say jump into community college, but if you signed up for classes through Adult Ed (which is different), you could learn something interesting AND maybe make some friends. (I've been thinking of taking the Saturday car mechanics classes at our local Adult Ed program. Sounds like fun, interesting stuff, and there will be other people there. And it's geared for women, too, and that's who I want to meet: women. I need more women friends.) What are you interested in?
3. Art classes -- many areas have small art school sorts of places, often not well advertised. You could find yourself something like a ceramics class (can you tell I'm projecting? I want to take ceramics!), or maybe stained glass? Doesn't that sound like fun? And, many times, you can set up practice dates with classmates.
4. Book clubs, or craft clubs, or car clubs -- places that have a focus you're interested in. For me, I could join something like a knitting group, or a book group, or a polymer clay group, or -- well, that's about it for me, but you've probably got a lot more thoughts than that for you.
5. Political work. Go down to your local party headquarters and see what sort of workers they need for the next election. You'll make the world a better place, while you meet people.
Mind you, ALL of these are hard, and especially when you're depressed. But some of them are doable, even when you're not at your best. Church might be the easiest, while you're actively depressed. Depending, of course, on the church. Second, for me, would be a class. But then, I get so obsessive that it's easy for me to lose myself in a class. Whether I'd actually come out of there with any new friends, though...
Good luck. I'll be interested in seeing what other people recommend.
poster:Racer
thread:615694
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060303/msgs/615731.html