Depression and the minor conditions that come with it sometimes make it hard to meet new people. From paranoia to anxiety, from discomfort to a general sadness, dealing with all of this can be hard. How do you sit down and talk with people when you dont know what to say, are nervous that you will say the wrong thing, or just think that you are not worth talking to? The first step towards meeting new people is building a slightly better self-image. Accept that you are worth dealing with people and that people will enjoy talking to you. You also dont want to over-extend yourself. Decide that you will talk with no more than 3 people that day, that you will only have meaningful interaction with a certain number. That way you are not stressing about how many people you will meet, how many people you will get to know that day. The next thing to do is find a group that will interest you. A poker night is okay for this, but something a little more structured might be better. A cooking class or a book discussion group would probably be better. That way, you can make sure that you are able to discuss something that you feel comfortable and safe with. Fewer surprises allows you to feel a bit more at ease. By controlling as many elements as possible, you are able to make sure that the experience will be as enjoyable as possible. |
