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rubbersoul · 04-21-2009, 01:59 PM

I feel awkward and nervous talking about this online, but this forum seems very supportive and friendly.

I'm 20 years old, depressed and socially isolated. I'm an only child and my family moved around a lot when I was a kid. I started high school in a new city and that’s when I first experienced really bad depression and social anxiety. I've been depressed for 5 years now, and although I had a few friends in the last city I lived in, they weren't "true friends" and it was all based on alcohol and drugs. I cut off all ties with friends I had over a year and a half ago because they were unhealthy relationships.

I moved 7 months ago and I literally have absolutely no contacts (personal or professional) except for my parents and my counsellor (who is a temporary emergency psychologist). I don't have a job or any references (although my counsellor offered to be one), and I dropped out of high school because I didn't know how to cope with the mental illness.

I've been sober for 29 days, my first go at quitting, and I'm really trying to turn things around in my life. I haven't made friends without talking about/using alcohol and drugs since I was 13 years old.

Now I'm an adult (although I don't feel like one) and making friends sober or at all seems impossible. Anyway, what I was wondering is if there's anyone on here that can relate to this even just a bit? Anybody who has also experienced social isolation, and advice on how to cope with it or maybe change it? Has your life improved? I'm feeling very lonely, overwhelmed and scared about my future and how I'm going to fit into society.

04-21-2009, 01:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
rubbersoul Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 64	social isolation I feel awkward and nervous talking about this online, but this forum seems very supportive and friendly. I'm 20 years old, depressed and socially isolated. I'm an only child and my family moved around a lot when I was a kid. I started high school in a new city and that’s when I first experienced really bad depression and social anxiety. I've been depressed for 5 years now, and although I had a few friends in the last city I lived in, they weren't "true friends" and it was all based on alcohol and drugs. I cut off all ties with friends I had over a year and a half ago because they were unhealthy relationships. I moved 7 months ago and I literally have absolutely no contacts (personal or professional) except for my parents and my counsellor (who is a temporary emergency psychologist). I don't have a job or any references (although my counsellor offered to be one), and I dropped out of high school because I didn't know how to cope with the mental illness. I've been sober for 29 days, my first go at quitting, and I'm really trying to turn things around in my life. I haven't made friends without talking about/using alcohol and drugs since I was 13 years old. Now I'm an adult (although I don't feel like one) and making friends sober or at all seems impossible. Anyway, what I was wondering is if there's anyone on here that can relate to this even just a bit? Anybody who has also experienced social isolation, and advice on how to cope with it or maybe change it? Has your life improved? I'm feeling very lonely, overwhelmed and scared about my future and how I'm going to fit into society.