What’s on your mind? All alone
I lost a parent, my job and my boyfriend last year and I feel extremely lonely. What can I do to get out of this slump?
Calling this extremely difficult time in your life a slump isn’t being fair on yourself. You’ve had a lot of changes and a lot to cope with. But hearing that you’re wanting to find a way of improving how you are feeling is a great place to start.
Reach out
Do you still have your other parent? If so, being close to family who truly understand the loss you’ve faced can be extremely comforting. Or if you have siblings, they will understand, too. If you weren’t that close to other family members before, now may be a good time to try and reconnect. Or, there are plenty of bereavement support groups to help people cope and feel less alone.
Get out and about
Going and sitting somewhere that has lots of people around can help. Take a book to a café and there’s bound to be someone to talk to – whether that’s the barrister or a friendly stranger. You might also come across a new job opportunity or feel inspired about what your next career move might be. Also, there are lots of Facebook groups for local communities that meet up to go on walks or other fun activities so search on there for any that might appeal to you.
Find inner peace
This one is possibly the most important of all. Take time to grieve and adjust. Being out of work must be extremely stressful, but take it as an opportunity to ground yourself and recover. Find things that bring you peace and happiness while alone. Try out new hobbies and listen to your emotions. Keep your head held high and love who you are because you’re doing incredibly well.