Getting back out there

How do some of you guys get back out to the real world and socialize. Right now I'm feeling good but anxious cause I'm alone. I'd really like to go out and meet people but I hate to say it don't know how.

I'd like to know the answer to that as well. I've isolated myself while trying to get myself stabilized (just diagnosed at the end of July) and I'm not sure the time is right for me yet, but I have the same question popping up in my head from time to time.

no clue ,

Just remember that THEY will never understand so just go be you 🏼

This is easier said than done and depends how badly you feel. When I'm very depressed I can't leave the house, and often need my hubby to take me on short trips to get back into the outside world. However, when I'm well I make contacts with people who have mutual interests and once I've made those contacts I can usually pick them up again every time I cycle up and emerge from my depressed isolation.

What I have found is that my hobbies bring me into contact with people, and by meeting people through hobbies, you have the benefit of having your topic/interest/activity to talk about, so it takes the pressure off for small talk.

I'm obsessed with horses, dogs, photography and writing. I do none of these things when I'm depressed (except I have to see my horse), but I do them when I'm well or hypo. At these times I make contacts with people. I drop off when I'm depressed and don't usually see them again till I come back out into society.

When I'm with photographers I can talk non stop about all things related to cameras and photography. I can go out shooting as well. I've recently just moved to a new area and I'm missing my "shooting buddy" so much. I have been depressed for most of it so haven't met any new togs. Once I'm out of this slump, I'm going to join the local camera club and meet some people to to shoot with.

My horse forces me out to meet other horsey people, and I've been fortunate in this move to have met some awesome people that became almost instant friends. Good enough friends that they've offered to take me to my ECT tx's so my hubby doesn't have to miss work.

Any hobby that you are passionate about and can meet other people who are like minded is a good place to start. There are no guarantees that you will meet your BFF, but the chances are much higher than a random meeting, since you already have your interest in common.

Martial arts, gym, dancing, dogs (agility etc), art classes, book clubs, writer's groups, clubs for any thing... Anything you are passionate about where you can meet like minded people.

Any interests that have volunteer potential are also good, although you have to be feeling well enough to get out there in the first place.

For me that's what it boils down to. When I'm depressed I don't have a hope of meeting anyone new or starting new relationships. I move a lot and have to start over from scratch frequently, and the older I get the harder it gets.

But what I do know is that I have to get out there when I can, when I feel good to meet people. Then, when I go into a depression, I have someone waiting for me when I come out again.

I have the same problem. It is weird with bipolar, isn't it? To go through periods of socialization and then seclusion.

It sucks.

I did it gradually. After coming out of periods of illness I need to spend time with safe people, doing mellow things for a while. After my last severe period I hung out with just a couple people, doing things like ordering take out and playing Scrabble, then after a while going for dinner, and building back up. I felt very raw, and anxious, and embarrassed for the things that had happened, so I avoided people. I also spent alone time doing physical stuff where I could be out around people, but not interacting - so that was running, yoga, aerobics classes, swimming - just anything to get moving, which also helped with depression and prevented weight gain from the antipsychotics. I started working as a casual, so that I could go in when I felt up to it, and turn down shifts when I needed to. For dating I went on a lot of dates with guys I met online, usually to go for a walk by the ocean, or for a drink, which was awkward because I didn't drink alcohol at the time, and didn't want to explain why. Things got gradually better, and it was easier to be social. I've had some minor depression since then, where I've isolated myself, but I found this PC and talked to the people here a lot to help me through it.

Right what else can you do. ****'em if they can't take a joke. Right?