As human beings, we crave community and connection. Anyone with mental health problems or who are neurodivergent will know how important it is to have good supportive friends; but equally how hard it is to keep them in your life. With the birth of the internet, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram etc changed how friendships are made and maintained. Gone are the days you called or visited a friend, now we send them a like or an online message as support. For many the digital age just simply isn’t compatible with them; leading to having no real friends and feeling isolated.
After two years working in the mental health space, ‘friendship’ is the number one thing every service user I’ve worked with, regardless of their age, craves. I get it. I have no friends, never the leave the house to see people (except for work or my child) and for a while felt forced to conform to online friendships; or have none.
How do you make friendships these days that are real or meaningful? I get asked this a lot. A big part is taking a leap of faith, battling your anxiety and looking into the many in person and peer support groups held in your local area.
Our wellbeing centres are a great start for making like-minded friends, as is looking at walking groups to build in some exercise and chat whilst doing so. If you love sport, Sport in Mind has been a great venue. I take service users to that and they have quickly made friends whilst doing activities at their own pace.
Local councils also have details for groups and events that are a good place to do something that interests you, whilst being in the company of others, giving you the opportunity to start conversations with others.
Written by Chris, recovery connect worker at Andover Mind
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