Q: I don't really have any questions... I am just saddened by the fact that I have such terrible social skills. I am 48 and have no friends to speak of. Only one sister who really cares about me.
"Living Well" by David Burns
Its a very good book which enables you talk back to your negative thoughts.
Hi...I soooo understand this. I am a 49 yr old female and I feel so alone. My mother cares about me, but she is on the other side of Canada. My family doesn't understand me, they think I turned to alcohol and drugs for fun and weakness. They know nothing about my condition bipolar and adhd, let alone my incest from father for many years when younger (don't believe me, justa drunk they think). My mom know the truth, he is dead now. I have no friends, I am recently diagnosed and still havig trouble gettting right 
meds. I cry all the time, why I don't know, or want to know, I don't understand myself, and I hate me for being this way. I thinkeveryone I used to know are quietly stayingout of touch....don't know what I a doing, where I live, wheat happened, don't ask. I as so sad, I feel worthless. I know how you feel, whats the point? I believed Ihad a second chance at life when I moved away and found a doctor who cares and is trying to help me. He diagnosed me, ther docs cast me off as an chronic alcoholic, I don't remember 1o years of my life...don't wantto,too scared and sad and cannot find forgiveness...since no one else seems to. Afraid to meet new people, I thnk I must just be wierd and stupid. I wish you well, I am starting to cry,going to have to sleep now. Good luck, you do have a new friend who gets it from this end! Simona
Try to be positive, fill your glass half full and not empty, no one can change you but yourself and why? You are fine, who cares what they think,,,,,
Thank you for that, I agree with you. I remember when brushing my teeth was a big move...i am now doing photography, teaching myself editing, and getting pretty good at it. I f I don't do something constructive each day, ia feel bad, but I am doing more than I have to...sometimes I let myself feel a little proud, but usually ends up thinking I am just obsessing, or something negative. I know you are right, and I am trying. I don;t drink and drug anymore, 7 or 8 years....but twice last year I drank because I ran out of my meds....again ended up on life support in hospital. I think this is a LONG and HARD road, but I am walking it...slowly. Still , though, I don't like myself generally, but i undertand some things. I wonder if I have to deal with my incest as a child, but dont want to. I still cry all the time for what ever reason....I am getting a little better I think, but I wish this wasn't happening....I remember when I was younger, I used to say my worst fear is ending up insane..I never ever expected this though. Oh well, , there are people with a harder recovery ahead of them, I am grateful I have a good doctor and deep down I know I am not stupid! Thanks for your support. Simona
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Frighteningly, I thought I had good social skills when I was drinking and doing drugs for 30 year to mask symptoms of bipolar. I had a lot of friends we met after work, talked had cocktails and by 8:30 I always felt better but by 6:30 the next morning I never felt very good at all. I don't drink or do the drugs anymore and my circle of friends exited with my decision to stop abusing. I made a good decision; I can't say for them. I always referred to giving up my excesses and bipolar as being like moving to a new town where all the buildings were the same but all the people left.
Here is how I got through it. Every day I did something I could be proud of. Somedays that was brushing my teeth or taking a shower but each step that I took that made me a little bit proud of myself gave me the courage to do one more thing I would be proud of myself for, then it began to snowball me out of a five year depression. I am a whale of a long way from being great today but I am also a whale of a long way away from the person that had suicide come to mind as a first line of defense for any problem. After 5 years bipolar isn't forfront in my mind anymore - it's just an inconvenience. Mapping has shown me when I'm going up and when I'm going down and I'm on the phone to my Dr immediately - do not pass go, do not collect $200 call the Dr it now when you see a change. I am never totallly stable but the better news is I am NEVER totally unstable with this practice because everything is always cought early. Map your moods, do something you can be proud of everyday and be proud of it and these little baby steps will make you feeel better, not so alone and the better you feel the more likely you are to let the dynamic, creative, smarter than the "average bear" personality shine through.
I was long written off as a drunk or alkeeholik but as it turned out I was neither. Maybe you aren't either...Maybe you were...Maybe you're not now...Girl the best advice is live in the moment. You cannot change your family, your past or anything but how you look at today and that's how I got through the worst years of my life. Take care. Good Luck. Do One Positive Thing Daily. Be Proud of Yourself. You will win.