Those on disability or unemployed - What to do during the day (socializing)?

spirit of trees...offer to volunteer at one of those museums. you'll meet more people, develop new skills and who knows eventually might even get offered a job...museums are always looking for volunteers..always. usually you get discounts at the store there & food...and there can be either tons of interaction with people or none depending on what type of position you end up with. but it's always fun and interesting...and you meet a whole new community of people...plus there are usually access passes to other museums as well.

I go to a mental health recovery center twice a week and therapy weekly.
I hang out with my grandmother.
I interact virtually with my congregation which is nice. I'm hoping to move so that I can be with them in person.
That's about all of my socializing. I'm loving the other responses. They are giving me some ideas to ponder.

I've already applied for a volunteer role at a museum, although I'm waiting for a slot to open. I'm on my local museum's wait list, so I guess I'll see what happens. I'm also looking at other places to volunteer, e.g. art gallery, library.

I'm just wondering if you like animals if there's a shelter or zoo where you can volunteer?

I am in a 12 step program so I guess you would say I volunteer and try and help people. I go into the women's prison to lead meetings. Nothing takes you out of yourself the way volunteering does.

I will try to find some volunteer opportunity. They are available, and I've tried in the past, but a couple were more exploitation, a couple were too stressful. I have to look harder.

I'm not particularly religious. What is that humanitarian group Ptak? That sounds lovely!

There was a time when I went to AA, but I stopped. It was triggering. Plus, I realized drinking was strictly self-medication for me, and not true addiction. I no longer feel I fit there anymore. I will look into NAMI programs again. I've attended some. Maybe there is something new.

I am attending a French class every other week. When that ends in a couple months, I'll push myself harder to find something. I have attended one Meet Up and have a couple in the works.

Thanks, everyone!

Mostly, sit around and do nothing. I like to be in one spot.

Hang out with my dogs, and run errands, and take me out for coffee.

I am on disability (and for a long time, I wasn't) and I haven't worked in years and I have NOTHING to do.

I only just recently got my Driver's License, too.

I came to this forum to find something to do.

I used to spend all my time on another forum but they kicked me out when they learned what my problems were.

I have a lot of fun hunting down my ancestors on genealogy sites. I meet distant relatives doing the same! We exchange old records, it's very cool.

There used to be a humanitarian group in my area that was for people who were not religious and didn't necessarily believe in God, but they cared about being good people and being part of a group.

@BirdDancer, French class sounds interesting!

I'm a computer game developer, I do everything from sound design for the game, to voice acting, drawing, and programming. I'm currently collecting SSI. I do a fair bit of socializing during the day.

I have my fingers crossed to be approved for SSDI, but that won't even happen for a year. I do creative things...art work, sew, decorate my tiny apartment. I do some chores and take care of my cats. My husband and I have had an online business for ten years, so I do some work on that every day. Run errands. Go to doctor/therapy appointments.

The only socializing I do except for maybe 4 times per year is online.

I wish I was healthier, then I would eventually get a dog. Now that is out of my reach. Because I feel so different day to day I can't even promise anyone to walk their dogs, they need someone who can do that every day and some days I just don't function.

I more have a hard time with time moving too quickly and I never have the time to do stuff. Just doing normal chores wears me out. I try to go for walks and stuff like that, but that is not always possible.

I cuddle with my cats, I try to eat, watch movies, email and chat with friends and hang out with RL friends. After that I'm done in. I find it amazing that normal people do more in a day than I do in a week, plus they work!

I found a lot of new friends online, one happened to live near me and a few in a city one hour from me. Also we also have an aspie meetup group here. We created that group because there was none in my city. That is always an option if there is no group, you can take charge and create one. At times when you don't meet you can have a mailing list or a forum to communicate. (And yea you can use Facebook but I don't recommend this because there will always be someone who tries not to use FB or is against it, in our group only two people have FB, LOL.)

I did some unpaid stuff, some of it was fun some was stressful. I tutored a girl I met online when she lived in another country, she moved to mine, and she got no help for her learning disability, so I stepped in and helped her a lot with her studies, I spent many hours explaining things. Also I sometimes help out in a cafe where immigrants can meet Swedes and learn from chitchatting. I just go there whenever I want and as a regular guest now, I told them it is too burdening to be one of the leaders.

I guess I rarely get bored, I feel overwhelmed already and even if I don't really seek out social contacts, they happen anyway. I think I'm just lucky in that matter.

I also try to finish one writing project every year, sometimes it works sometimes not.

I have so many interests but I don't have focus, energy and it is hard for me to get going. I used to like to paint and play instruments. That I haven't done in ages. Instead I sing to myself sometimes, LOL. I was in a newbie choir a while but that was too intense for me even if we just met once a week, but was really fun. Long time ago we also had an ad out if someone wanted us (me and best friend), to come groom and pet their horses and sometimes give them exercise. That was mega fun. But also there my energy somehow ended.

Here, night classes is a big thing, you usually go once a week, there is no formal diploma or grades, but you learn what you go there to learn. It can be literally anything, some stuff just needing attendance, some needing studying. Way way back I did pottery. More recently I took Arabic and also British English communication. I liked that stuff because meeting people around a certain task might be easier than just meeting and doing nothing. I tried to work on my British accent, but TV ruined me, LOL.

I seem to be on the other end of the problem of disability. I have tons of stuff I can do but I feel time and energy just disappears away. Can I buy some energy and sell you some of my friends? LOL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by -jimi- ...Can I buy some energy and sell you some of my friends? LOL.

It looks like rats in your avatar. I've had many rats as pets. I loved them. I miss them. They are so intelligent, interesting, and loyal.

I've had several over the years but last one 8-9 years ago or so. Especially one was really cool, very clever, she rode on my shoulder almost everywhere I went. She was friendly from the day I got her, even if she never had been handled. I don't have them anymore because it is difficult how short lifespans they have. But I had about 15 over time, plus my friend's rats that shared space with mine, so maybe 30 in all.

I know exactly how you feel @BirdDancer As I’m on Disability now & always will be unfortunately. I’ve not only got mental health issues but also multiple painful physical ones too.

I can’t even do volunteering as I’m just not well enough to. I also live in a rural coastal area which is very isolated and hours away from the city. Our children are all grown up & have left home along with many friends that have also moved a long way away.

There aren’t many social events to go to. Those that they do have I don’t feel comfortable going to. Mainly because of socioeconomic reasons. In other words I feel looked down upon because I don’t work. Along with all my “invisible disabilities” that nobody can see nor understand.

If it wasn’t for my husband I would have given up years ago. Problem is after years of traumatic health events with me have taken their toll on him now. He’s also been diagnosed with Bipolar, Major Depression & Anxiety Disorder.

Sometimes it’s so tough that we both feel like giving up literally....know what I mean?

I wish you luck with Meet UPS etc I really do. I’ve thought of starting one myself out here? But don’t think I have reliable enough physical health to carry through with it. If not for my physical health problems I could do it. I feel so frustrated as once I had a successful career and lots of confidence.

However after so much sickness over the years, life has gradually chipped it all away. Sorry to sound so down but I truly am.

I wish you all the best with your socialising!

There is a "drop in center" a couple blocks from where I live where I can socially meet up with others with mental illness, but I have to stick close to my husband... There are activities in my apartment building too but well I'm almost afraid to make friends. . the little old ladies confronted me and said "do you have Asperger's, all of us were wondering" and knowing I'm so different people notice hurts me

Wow! Even if I'm quite proud of my aspie traits (I feel they are the good part of me), I would be kind of shocked if someone asked me like that. Like, what is that to do with them? If I notice something about others, I don't go confront them. I'd feel so rude if I did.

Now I don't know if you have aspergers, but I kind of guess you do, since your pic of yourself quite looks like... me! You look more like me than ANY of my relatives!!! IDK, but that is just awesome.

Being different shouldn't be a bad thing, but for it to be a good thing one must first feel included. We all need that, to be accepted and be in a context. Some people confuse inclusion with being similar to others, but that doesn't have to be true at all.

You sound like an awesome person and I feel bad that they felt it was OK to say such thing to you. I'd even feel threatened, like "WE all were wondering..." Like, what? Talk about them creating an us and them feeling. Having strong interests and passions is rare, and I feel it's so cool when someone is really passionate about something. Even if it's not what I'm interested in. My own passions are starting to wear off so... yea.

I had a public meltdown and they asked me after it happened but they said they suspected very soon after i moved into the building... I have very strong passions which is like the most aspie-like trait I have... the ladies actually are familiar with autistics and one of them says I behave very similarly to her grandson with Asperger's. She wants to get me a weighted vest to help calm me.

There is an Asperger's lady in this building too who hangs out with the same ladies I mentioned above who sometimes talks to me, she thinks I'm Asperger's too lol

Once I went to a bipolar support group, first time I attended, I open my mouth to introduce myself and I get interrupted and a random lady asked "are you autistic too?"

Anyway many mental health professionals and therapists have said it too even, but I've never had a "formal" evaluation and my insurance wouldn't fully cover the cost. Closest I've had was a therapist highly suspecting and giving me the AQ test and RAADS-R and advising testing based on the results. Taking the AQ and RAADS R online and other quizzes, I always test in the autistic range.

But the cooccuring mental illness complicates things...

That there is an asperger woman there already makes me feel a little better because they haven't excluded her.

But yea I can still understand it is emotional if people keeps pointing it out. I would think what the hell do I have a badge saying it or what's going on? It would be strange if people just picked it up like that. I usually pass below people's aspie radar, but that is because I think my ADD shows more.

And for sure, mental illness mixed into it does complicate things! I have so many diagnoses that there aren't even enough boxes on my profile page for all of them. It's weird because I feel rather sane... And knowing what is what. I think for example my sleep issues and my physical illness are somehow connected to aspergers and ADD. What a mess.. LOL.

Does anyone have experience starting a group like this? Not necessarily for those with mental illness but for those who may know someone or live with someone with mental illness also.