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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 07:04 PM
  #1
They say when you’re having a hard time not to isolate yourself. I feel that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m not sure why. I feel like when I reach out nobody notices me but I’m not sure if that’s just sadness and anxiety skewing my reality.

It’s been one thing after another these past several months. More bad news today... just when I was starting to feel stronger again... I am trying to remain positive.

Sometimes life just kind of beats you down. Most of it is out of my control. Serious issues with the kids, my job. Why is it that friends don’t seem to be around when you need them most? Have I pushed them away? I thought I was there for them when they needed me but as soon as my life started falling apart I felt invisible.

I don’t want to pull away from PC. This place has been a great source of support. Thank you for listening.

Last edited by LilyMop; Jan 08, 2020 at 07:18 PM..
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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 07:45 PM
  #2
Yes, it's hard to know how real our responses are at times like that.

I'm really sorry things are tough.

Perhaps you are seeing things clearly, regarding your friends being less attentive than you hoped. But it might not necessarily be as negative as it appears.

When I was in a different country earlier this year, I felt as though the local people were behaving oddly towards me. Travelling is challenging! Towards the end, I was able to see that the people there were just being themselves. It was a town that spoke little English, and the locals just had different mannerisms and so on.

So, I was right. But there were other factors and I shouldn't have taken it personally.

Hard to say, when one's in a sensitised state.

Take care.

Youre so lovely and interesting, I can't imagine that your friends are deliberately letting you down.

Keep asking clearly for what you need.

A friend won't mind.

Hang in there. I really believe that things will get better.
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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 09:21 PM
  #3
I push away and isolate when stressed at times.
Think people can read my mind.
Hugs. You’re not as alone as you feel at times.
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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 09:29 PM
  #4
That has to be hard when you're there for your friends but they won't reciprocate when you need their emotional support. Sadness and anxiety can definitely distort reality. The cognitive effects of isolation on the brain can lead to trouble thinking clearly, processing your thoughts, making decisions, and trying to remember something.

Best thing to do when you feel overwhelmed is to reach out whether it's here or in real life to anyone you trust. In the past 6 months, when I've been uber stressed and rejected and shunned by my sister and other family members whom I went to for support, it's the members here at PC who've kept me from isolating. Thank god for PC.

Just keep posting. Go outside for a walk. Take a bath. Journal. Call someone who you know will answer your call. You are not alone. The PC community is here for you. They're here for everyone who needs support.
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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 10:05 PM
  #5
Sending hugs your way, LilyMop.
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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 10:36 PM
  #6
Quote:
Originally Posted by Purple,Violet,Blue View Post
Yes, it's hard to know how real our responses are at times like that.


I'm really sorry things are tough.


Perhaps you are seeing things clearly, regarding your friends being less attentive than you hoped. But it might not necessarily be as negative as it appears.


When I was in a different country earlier this year, I felt as though the local people were behaving oddly towards me. Travelling is challenging! Towards the end, I was able to see that the people there were just being themselves. It was a town that spoke little English, and the locals just had different mannerisms and so on.


So, I was right. But there were other factors and I shouldn't have taken it personally.


Hard to say, when one's in a sensitised state.


Take care.


Youre so lovely and interesting, I can't imagine that your friends are deliberately letting you down.


Keep asking clearly for what you need.


A friend won't mind.


Hang in there. I really believe that things will get better.


Thank you for those kind words. I do agree that my perception has been distorted. I’ve wondered whether I’m trusting the wrong people or whether there’s just more to the story than I realize, like you said, and it has nothing to do with me. I did have one person say to me recently that I always have everything “together” in my life which is not at all how I feel. Yes, I am in a very sensitized state and things are not all adding up for me at the moment.
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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 10:36 PM
  #7
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Sending hugs your way, LilyMop.


Feeling sad and isolating myself Thank you Feeling sad and isolating myself
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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 10:38 PM
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Originally Posted by StreetcarBlanche View Post
That has to be hard when you're there for your friends but they won't reciprocate when you need their emotional support. Sadness and anxiety can definitely distort reality. The cognitive effects of isolation on the brain can lead to trouble thinking clearly, processing your thoughts, making decisions, and trying to remember something.


Best thing to do when you feel overwhelmed is to reach out whether it's here or in real life to anyone you trust. In the past 6 months, when I've been uber stressed and rejected and shunned by my sister and other family members whom I went to for support, it's the members here at PC who've kept me from isolating. Thank god for PC.


Just keep posting. Go outside for a walk. Take a bath. Journal. Call someone who you know will answer your call. You are not alone. The PC community is here for you. They're here for everyone who needs support.


Thank you. I’m glad I did reach out and make this post. I was building some serious anxiety the more I was isolating myself. I thought I was doing better but I don’t trust any of my thoughts at this point.
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Default Jan 08, 2020 at 10:40 PM
  #9
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Originally Posted by June55 View Post
I push away and isolate when stressed at times.

Think people can read my mind.

Hugs. You’re not as alone as you feel at times.

Why can’t they just read our minds? That would be easier right? I can’t read anyone else’s mind either though. I’m sure others have felt alone and I had no idea about it. Thank you for the support.
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Default Jan 09, 2020 at 04:09 AM
  #10
We are here for you- things will get better.
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Default Jan 09, 2020 at 06:36 AM
  #11
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We are here for you- things will get better.


Feeling sad and isolating myselfFeeling sad and isolating myselfFeeling sad and isolating myselfFeeling sad and isolating myselfFeeling sad and isolating myself
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Default Jan 09, 2020 at 07:10 AM
  #12
It is hard when we are alone! Keep trying to reach out to other people. It is already REALLY GOOD that you were able to reach out here. Keep doing that. I am so sorry your Friends aren't there for you right now. Perhaps they're just busy? I am not sure. You will get through this. Have Faith. Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH You, @LilyMop, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!
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Default Jan 09, 2020 at 07:26 AM
  #13
I have no family. It’s just me, my husband and and our pets. That’s probably why I am so sensitive to feeling abandoned by my friends. People tell me to build my own intentional family with my friendships but so far that has not worked out.
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Default Jan 09, 2020 at 08:37 AM
  #14
I am so sorry you’ve gotten more bad news. Life has sure not been easy lately for you and it is worse when the problems are something you have no control over.

Making friends as an adult can be tough and maintaining friendships can be challenging too sometimes. People are often busy with so many other things - work, family, existing friends.

I have been feeling sort of isolated myself these days since we moved out of the city. It’s me, my husband and pets too. The neighbors I have interacted with here are nice, but our interaction is limited. It is harder to get together with friends that live where we used to live. It takes more of an effort, definitely. At least several are on vacation the next few weeks and I am back to work but only part-time, so we should be able to meet for lunch or something.

Remember that we are here when you want to talk or vent. Don’t pull away from PC. You have support here!
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Default Jan 09, 2020 at 02:57 PM
  #15
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I am so sorry you’ve gotten more bad news. Life has sure not been easy lately for you and it is worse when the problems are something you have no control over.


Making friends as an adult can be tough and maintaining friendships can be challenging too sometimes. People are often busy with so many other things - work, family, existing friends.


I have been feeling sort of isolated myself these days since we moved out of the city. It’s me, my husband and pets too. The neighbors I have interacted with here are nice, but our interaction is limited. It is harder to get together with friends that live where we used to live. It takes more of an effort, definitely. At least several are on vacation the next few weeks and I am back to work but only part-time, so we should be able to meet for lunch or something.


Remember that we are here when you want to talk or vent. Don’t pull away from PC. You have support here!


Thank you so much. I know you’ve been through a hard time too.

We have nice neighbors too but you’re right. People are really busy.

I appreciate your kind words and support.
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Default Jan 10, 2020 at 08:09 AM
  #16
I agree it is challenging building and maintaining friendships in adulthood. Also it's normal in my experience for them to wax and wane.

It's great that you have your husband and your pets! But yeah I get sometimes it's good to have people outside of family to be with.

What would you most like from your friends right now? Would you like to have someone listen to your problems or would you prefer distraction and just having some fun to take your mind off things?
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Default Jan 10, 2020 at 01:32 PM
  #17
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I have no family. It’s just me, my husband and and our pets. That’s probably why I am so sensitive to feeling abandoned by my friends. People tell me to build my own intentional family with my friendships but so far that has not worked out.

Hello Lily Mop

That sounds pretty much like me. Well, at least you have a spouse. I don't have one and no pets. I live by myself.

I just have one friend and that's it. It's always been difficult for me to make friends. Like the others say, people are pretty busy. Also what I notice is that they seem to be set with what they have going for them for their friends and wouldn't need me.

I live in a very small apartment complex for 55 + and disabled. There are some younger folks also. They are mostly single. I had moved out from a large condo complex last May and moved to where I am now thinking that it's going to be easier for me to make friends. So far it hasn't been better after 8 months.

I just have one friend, as I mentioned earlier. He's 84 years old and has physical limits. It's hard for him to visit me. Plus there are many times that, when we talk on the phone, he gets critical with me. It would upset me so much that I can't sleep at night. I had wanted to split from him but we always end up talking it over. Plus if I lose him, then I've lost everything socially.

Also I have my sister and that's all of the contact I have with my entire family. She lives 3000 miles away. There are no plans for us to get together. I know that I would not like to move to where she is since I lived in that area before and didn't like it.

I have no suggestions. In my situation people so often give me suggestions. I've done it all and nothing worked. So I tire of hearing what I should do. Good luck to you. Perhaps for you and I, something will happen for us.
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Default Jan 11, 2020 at 04:55 PM
  #18
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I agree it is challenging building and maintaining friendships in adulthood. Also it's normal in my experience for them to wax and wane.


It's great that you have your husband and your pets! But yeah I get sometimes it's good to have people outside of family to be with.


What would you most like from your friends right now? Would you like to have someone listen to your problems or would you prefer distraction and just having some fun to take your mind off things?

I just want people to spend time with. I don’t expect anybody to listen to all of my problems. I wish I could meet other people like me who have no family and who understand what it’s like.
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Default Jan 11, 2020 at 05:14 PM
  #19
That sounds healthy and achievable. You come across really nice on here - I think lots of people would like you in their lives.

Maybe this will be a numbers game a bit like dating? Like sifting through until you find people who are a good fit for you?

I know it isn't as easy said as done when we get older. If you keep open and meeting different people I think that's the best thing. It's what I have done in the past anyhow when looking for friends.
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Default Jan 11, 2020 at 06:13 PM
  #20
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I just want people to spend time with. I don’t expect anybody to listen to all of my problems. I wish I could meet other people like me who have no family and who understand what it’s like.

It seems like on here and some of the other on-site places I go to, from what people talk about in their lives, it sounds very much like me. Just like this quote above. One time I had someone on here I had PM'ed with and felt like I had a lot in common. He had been divorced and I never had. That's one thing we didn't have in common. Other than that, we did and I really enjoyed writing to him. But it ended when he decided not to write anymore and had mentioned that he wanted to end it all.

I feel like I'm the only one who does not have a good social life. There are two other guys at where I live who are single and I think that they are older than me. I don't see them that much. One guy is fairly nice but he seems delusional and he always talks about going to parties. I get the feeling that he's just making that up. I've never seen him with anyone. And then there's another guy who doesn't talk much. But when he does he has negative things to say that's upsetting. So that's how it is with me.

They say to reach out to others that you think are lonely. For me I hardly know of anyone that's like that. And if they are, then I'd be too afraid that I might be too intrusive. On the other hand, I think that people know that I am alone and they don't bother to reach out to me. So it's like, "why should I reach out?".
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