very lonely

Hello, I too am very lonely. I am 52 with 3 grown children who live in another state. I have 2 GrandDaughters who I miss terribly. My husband and I moved last year to be close to our job. Turns out I ended up getting depressed with anxiety about moving away from the kids and all of our family. Now I'm not working with my husband who is a truck driver due to the depression and anxiety, so I'm stuck here in this house in a town where I know no one.
I too thought about volunteer work, but at this point I can verily get myself out of bed. If I can get well I will look for a local job to meet people in this area.
Maybe we can chat sometime.
I hope you get to see your Grandchildren more often than you are expecting. Best wishes..

If you two are going to email, you should add your emails to your profile so you can get them from each other without posting them on line. Only members can see our profiles but anybody could see it on the forum. Just an fyi...

If you do put them on the forum, let me know when the other one gets it and I will delete it afterwards. I wouldn't keep them on the forum long. Just thinking ahead...

I hope you both have a good day today...

Hi Aurora, good to see you posting again.

Welcome Marqi, I don't remember seeing you post before, but that is just me. Bad memory...

Hugs, Karen...

As a senior living alone, I also have trouble with loneliness.

One of the things that has helped me is to have a home health care type of person come by my place once or twice a week.

During this time we have conversation, even if its just taking me to the doctor's office.

So, I would recommend home health care.

Two, as you mentioned, volunteering is the same thing, you just don't pay the people to talk to them.

Hospitals can use volunteers in many departments, and job openings can be seen on their employment screen.

Senior citizens homes, food banks, animal shelters walking dogs can also be considered.

What do you think about that?

You only have to Click on the Members blue lettered name on the left side of the post, it will take you to the profile and there the email will be.

I understand the loneliness that is spoken about. My husband is a chef, work long hours, even though he has semi retired into health care [hospitals] from restaurants. He works at a large private room building, that all does catering for satelite offices, schools and events for medical personnel. Large organization.

I ramble.

I am 57, hubby and I have not children.

At night, I read. I have 3 favorite magazines. Archeology, Scientific MIND, and Mindful.
I read books. I sell large print books on eBay. So I go to book sales often.

I am teaching myself out to place the piano, slow process, however slowly I see progress and feel proud of my accomplishments. The videos on Youtube do for me that music lessons did.
Just saying.

On weekends here are a few suggestions:

I took up art. Started with crayons, to water colors to acrylics. It is amazing what can be accomplished if a person, sits quietly. Closes their eyes, begins a body scan. What emotions are swirling about in side?

Thinking on these emotions, then clearing you mind before starting, CREATE! Don't think, erase, question. just DO! You will be surprised was comes out.


As for the grandchild. There is a think called SKYPE. It is video calling on smart phones and laptop; note pads etc... It is free to down load.

It is as easy as a phone call. If you can post here you can Skype. You can do daily calls with grandchildren, help them with their home work, just say hi! See them off, before a date, etc...
just ask YOUR kids to set it up on their end and coordinate some times.

A small dog or a cat is a good idea if you are not allergic and like animals. If you care for them.
The unconditional love from a dog is indescribable. I can not imagine like without a dog in more home. A cat, well they can love and be aloof.

I hope this helped in some way.

Peace
Trina

Karen, I checked my member profile and my email is listed as unavailable so that it doesn't show on my posts. I don't know how to fix it. I will just see if someone wants to email me through a post and then I can list it and take it off.

To all who replied, thank you so much. There are many good suggestions. I think my best option is to get out and volunteer. My other sanctuary is the library where I spend many afternoons. I guess my real problem is the quiet and loneliness when home all alone. I grew up in a big family so this is uncomfortable. I just let it get to me too much so I have to work on this.
I was given SKYPE by my son last year for Mother's Day and for some strange reason it would not install on my computer. Here we are a year later and my son has still not fixed the problem. This is what I mean by being ignored or put on the back burner. I am not computer literate or I would fix it myself. Also, my computer is old so that may have something wrong. I imagine I am not the only one who has a child who is just too "busy" to keep in touch. Sometimes we have to do the best to make our friends our "family."

I will try and add my email to my profile. I'm new here, so still trying to figure out where to go to do what.

Thank You! I think I was able to make it to where it is viewable.

Margie

Yay Margie!!!

Hello LHA112, welcome to the depression forum.

Hugs, Karen...

Hi Margie,

I saw your email on your profile and if you would like to email with me I would be happy to contact you and give you support. We can chat a bit and if I email you, you will then have my email address and we can correspond. Is that something you want to do?
If OK I will email you soon.

Take care, and I hope you are feeling a little better. Having a friend to talk with makes it easier.

Aurora

Yes I would like it if you could email me. Thank You! Margie 😊

Hi LHA,

I understand your concern about online safety and you are right. I have had good success in the past emailing a few people and one actually became a good friend that I got together with. If you aren't comfortable emailing how about if we chat right here on the forum. We can help with support and answer questions you might have. Just know that this is a very friendly group and caring. We just want to help and be helped.

Aurora

LHA,

What if you were to pick up a hobby or find something you enjoy doing at that time of the day to break things up? Designate a time to do something you like. Maybe that will help you to see that time of day differently.

I hate feeling lonely. Or left out. I think we all do. But now this is the time to live your life for you.

I hope you feel better soon.

Aurora and Margi,

I am glad you both were able to connect. Here's to a future of friendship. Cheers!!!

Hugs to all three of you.

Karen...