What are your next steps?

[biscuits]

I was just wondering if anyone would like to share what their next steps are in terms of battling social anxiety, living with depression, or any thing else that is prominent in your life.

It could be things like:

Taking up a new hobby
* Signing up for a class
* Volunteering (temporarily or long term)
* Going for a daily walk
* Practicing self care (washing each day, taking time to be in nature)
* Meditation
* Something relaxing
* Spending time with someone you love
* Taking time each day to have a moment of peaceful calm
* Setting aside some time that's just for you
* Setting some time aside that's dedicated to helping others e.g. a rubbish pick up or making a bug hotel for insects, planting flowers for bees...
* Saying hello to a stranger or someone working in a shop/cafe
* Asking a question to start up a conversation
* Saying one thing in a staff meeting
* Finding an in-person support group
* Self referral for counselling
* Learning a new skill (that can even be through YouTube tutorials)
* Looking for free workshops in the local area e.g. through libraries
* Joining a book club
* Joining a walking group
* Getting back in touch with someone you used to be close to
* Finding someone to talk to (either a professional or a friend)
* Booking an appointment to see the GP
* Joining meet-up or looking for meet-up groups on Facebook
* Find a new recipe
* Cook a healthy home made meal
* Have breakfast
* Create a healthy sleep routine
* Drink more water
* Lower alcohol, caffeine, or sugar intake

Really looking forward to the responses

you can of course just think of your answer without sharing it

[Tonkin]

That's a good list.

I never really think of battling it or trying to overcome it, at least not any more.

I guess the ones for me, from that list, would be:

* Saying hello to a stranger or someone working in a shop/cafe
* Asking a question to start up a conversation

The thought of doing those sounds very unappealing so they are probably what I should do!

[limey123]

Getting a new job.

[Mr. Nobody]

that's a good list Biscuits,

as it happens I am now planning on taking in a daily walk, hopefully starting later this eve after work.

only thing is,.. it's the school holidays up here and a lot of large groups of teenagers have sort of taken to hanging about various parts of my local country walking route,
but I shall try and just blank that out and walk past all the drinking, shouting shrieking mob and remain aloof,

it was always blissfully quiet in the past, but I think Covid has forced them all up into the local hills for drinking parties,
complete with thumping ghetto blasters and bottles of hooch etc.

there's often been huge piles of bottles and cans left lying about,

all this has stopped me going my walk, but I'm determined now that that's not going to put me off any more.

[Amara 94]

Acceptance of my strengths and weaknesses

[BFG_]

Exercise exercise and more exercise. Nothing else seems to help as much with depression. As far as sa I don't really care anymore I'm quiet the rest of the world can put up with it or bugger off.

[biscuits]

Loving the replies everyone

Originally Posted by Nanuq

What about you, Biscuits?

Aw thank you for asking.

I would like to get back into a better bedtime/wake up routine. And I would like to go to in-person yoga or meditation classes again.

I used to go for lots of walks and think I need to get back into that.

I'm also going to the skate shop at the weekend to get some roller blades and I'll go blading around the lake.

And going to meets for an SA challenge!

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by The Devil, Probably.

You're put together a really thoughtful post.

Whereas, you have not

this tickled me very much.

(Seriously though, thank you )

[limey123]

One of the best threads ever made in my view. Shame it seems largely barren of responses. What if each of us committed to doing one new or daring thing, such as one of the things listed by Biscuits?

[Appear]

Great idea for a thread. And very nice to see people's plans.

My big one is to try to make some friends locally - but I'm not sure how yet! I've been living in Wales since a little before the pandemic (apart from lockdown 1) but because of it haven't had loads of opportunity to meet new people. Going into the office more (even though it's ages away) might be a start. Obviously SA complicates things, but generally I'm much better than I've ever been.

[R.H.I.N.O.]

I walk daily and am exploring some volunteering opportunities locally.

I'm hoping to mix with people and it will also feed my desire to help people by passing on my knowledge and skills.

Looking for something physical as I always feel better when I've exerted myself and built something useful.

Conservation work or similar.

[biscuits]

Great replies everyone

[biscuits]

^ would you like any possible ideas for thinking of some next steps? It's okay if now isn't the right time. It can be something that feels ever so small that makes the biggest difference in the moment.

[biscuits]

I said I was going to go to a skate shop to get some roller blades. Well. Well, they only sold skateboards.

I'm reluctant to buy them online because I want to test them out first and see how they fit. I know I could send them back but that is such a faff because the next size might be too big.

Later on I'll google to see if there are any shops anywhere in the UK that sell them and I guess I can have a day out somewhere.

[emre43]

Originally Posted by biscuits

^ would you like any possible ideas for thinking of some next steps? It's okay if now isn't the right time. It can be something that feels ever so small that makes the biggest difference in the moment.

Thank you, that would be very helpful

[βetty]

^^theres a sports shop in Ely that sells roller boots, you could email them to ask if they stock blades as well: http://www.pauldaysports.com/

[Azalea]

My next steps will be 5 rung aluminium ones with a platform on top

[Professor Willow]

^

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by Azalea

My next steps will be 5 rung aluminium ones with a platform on top

phwoar. they sound gorgeous.

I'd want some of these to be pushed around on.



They be excellent to go shopping on as well. Also I'd enjoy singing from the top of them.

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by βetty

^^theres a sports shop in Ely that sells roller boots, you could email them to ask if they stock blades as well: http://www.pauldaysports.com/

aw wow thanks. I'll give them a call. I've also found one in Bedford to call.

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by emre43

Thank you, that would be very helpful

And as you're (understandably!) finding it challenging to re-find that self-belief and motivation to find a new job after the sudden shock of losing one where you fit in well and felt free to be sociable, perhaps you could do a stint of voluntary work.

It will help you to learn new skills and it won't be the same environment as a paid job because people want to be there.

Perhaps that will help you to find a new area of interest and explore different sectors and types of jobs?

[emre43]

Originally Posted by biscuits

And as you're (understandably!) finding it challenging to re-find that self-belief and motivation to find a new job after the sudden shock of losing one where you fit in well and felt free to be sociable, perhaps you could do a stint of voluntary work.

It will help you to learn new skills and it won't be the same environment as a paid job because people want to be there.

Perhaps that will help you to find a new area of interest and explore different sectors and types of jobs?

Thank you, that’s actually a really good idea, I will look into what’s out there.

[Professor Willow]

Out the ****ing door if I had any sense

[anewyear]

Originally Posted by biscuits

phwoar. they sound gorgeous.

I'd want some of these to be pushed around on.



They be excellent to go shopping on as well. Also I'd enjoy singing from the top of them.

I had to count the steps to check they actually were 8 tread as advertised

[anxiouslondoner]

I'm not sure.
My therapy sessions ended somewhat more abruptly than I'd have expected.
It's difficult to even identify what the exact problem is. In some ways I'm practically well-functioning but I still slip up from time to time.
As an example it's really hard for me to ask for things even when I need them.
I wish I could consider dating but it's a complete danger zone for me, full of imagined risk of humiliation.
I don't even have a solid enough positive image of myself to be able to present myself to the world. Even just writing this makes me feel like I'm setting myself up for ridicule.
So I don't know where I'm going with this. I don't want to rush back into therapy as I feel a bit let down by it, and it's expensive.
Anyway I'm boring even myself now, so I shall shut up.

[BFG_]

My next steps are to finish renovating our house bung it up for rent then buy a massive motorhome jack my job in and live in that with the rent from the house. At least that's the plan in my dreams. More likely I'll carry on doing my job till we all get made redundant then do the motorhome thing.

Plans for social anxiety are that I no longer have any interest in trying to change myself to fit into an obviously broken world.

[Bluebear]

Being more accepting of me..