Ditching Isolation

One of the hallmark symptoms of dysthymia {long-term, low-grade depression} and major depression is isolation; and I isolated for years. Don't get me wrong. I liked people. In fact, I spent a lot of time with friends and family over the years that I was dysthymic - but, it was always difficult for me on some level. I felt desperately inadequate and unworthy - not because anyone made me feel that way, but because my head made it so. 

Then of course, when in the throws of major depression, all I wanted was to be alone, swaddled in the darkness and misery I felt I deserved. I lacked the energy for socializing and certainly didn't want to impose my miserable self on others. 

In recovery, things have changed dramatically. 

This weekend, my family and I are visiting good friends in New York - friends that I haven't seen since my hospitalization. They are friends whom I love and have always enjoyed being around, but this time I feel even more present than ever before. I find myself enjoying the full richness of our friendship and time spent together. In a way, I feel like I've poured back into my skin again. I am fully myself; and it feels good! It feels like coming home.

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From our outing to Ithaca today:

...life is good!

Wellness Part II: Social

{Waaaay back on April 26, I posted Wellness Part I: Physical. As promised, here (finally!) is Part II...}

One of the most critical factors to both my recovery from alcohol addiction and my depression/anxiety recovery has been social connections. Having supportive family, friends, and spouse, and connecting with others going through the same issues has helped me break out of the vicious cycle of isolation and has given me the strength to keep recovering. 

But what do you do if you don't have such a network already in place? Reach out and find one:

1.  The internet, as you know, is full of resources; and support groups abound. Here are just a very few of those out there:

• Addiction Support Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): www.aa.org

Narcotics Anonymous (NA): www.na.org

Gamblers Anonymous (GA): http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/

•  Depression  & Anxiety Support Groups

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?section=Find_Support

PsychCentral:

Depression - http://psychcentral.com/resources/Depression/Support_Groups/

Anxiety - http://psychcentral.com/resources/Anxiety_and_Panic/Support_Groups/

Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA):

http://www.adaa.org/finding-help/getting-support/support-groups/online-phone

2.  Check out the resources in your community as well. Churches and hospitals have support groups for addiction and mental illness; primary care doctors have resources at their finger tips; and colleges and schools have support groups and resources available in their counseling centers. Just ask.

3.  Drop me a note on Facebook, (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pink-Hi-Top-Adventures/411429458973219), leave a comment here, or email me at pink.hi.tops@gmail.com. I'd love to connect with you!

Whatever you do, don't allow yourself to stay isolated. Connections strengthen us and provide the framework upon which solid recovery is built.