The Importance of Socializing

Human beings are social creatures. Isolation is not good for anyone, but it is particularly bad for those of us who suffer from depression. Alone with our negative thoughts, we usually end up sliding a lot closer to the abyss.

Socializing is one thing I realized early on was good for me, even before I got help, and professionals told me what I'd already figured out. If I'm in a good mood, or if I'm feeling creative, being alone can be a good thing. I can get some writing done when I'm not being distracted. But when I'm in a bad mood, when despair overtakes me, I know that I'm just not good company for myself. I need to get out and socialize.

Hanging out with friends will improve your mood, even if it's only slightly. At worst, being with other people will at least prevent your despair from getting worse. Chances are that your mood will improve. Being alone reminds you of how alone you feel, reminds you of your lonely struggle against your illness. Being with other people may initially feel like a temporary distraction, but ultimately, it will make you feel connected to humanity again. Socializing will remind you that there is more to the world than the darkness within yourself.

If you're feeling really depressed, I urge you to socialize as much as you can. Go and hang out with your friends. It's good for you. Just remember to do your best not to dump your despair all over them. I've done it, many times, and I have to remind myself constantly not to do it, no matter how good it feels to vent. I do my best not to, but I don't always succeed. Just try and relax, have fun, and talk about something other than how bad you feel. And pay attention to how you feel right after you leave to go home. Ask yourself if you feel at least a little better than you did before you went out. I think you'll be able to say that you do.

If you don't have any friends, then you need to get out and try and meet some. I don't have a lot of great advice for meeting people, because I've always had friends, and have never really had a problem making new ones. Some of my friends I've known for more than 30 years, so I've been fortunate. One suggestion I have is to join a club that shares one of your interests. I joined a writer's group, and have a few new friends because of it. If you have a hobby, a sport you follow, an interest you're passionate about, then try and find a group or club that shares that interest. It will be easier to make friends in a situation where you all have something in common. You won't feel like an outsider with nothing to say. The internet is a great tool for finding such organizations. I used Google to find the writer's group I joined.

So get out there. Hang out with old friends, or make new ones. It's not easy sometimes. Trust me, I know how easy it is to let depression pin you to the floor. But do it. You will probably feel at least a little better, maybe a lot better. Socializing is an important, and often underused weapon in the fight against depression. Please use it. Please fight.