Some tips to combat lonliess Part Two

Try not to leave a situation because of feelings of discomfort or anxiety. This will only increase your fear of a situation at a higher level and give yourself negative feedback. This can be difficult to do.

1. It may be helpful to remember that if you suffer from any symptoms of anxiety these are only an exaggerated form of how we all feel from time to time. They cause discomfort but are not life threatening. Placed in a difficult situation, your symptoms any increase but it will reach a peak and come down again. Try not to be afraid of this feeling and run away from the situation. If you need to, use BREATHING exercises to take control of the situation. (Please see article re BREATHING RETRAINING TECHNIQUES.)If you manage your situation effectively in this way, you will get POSITIVE feedback from the experience resulting in you being less fearful in the future.
7. Alternatively, PLAN.
1. Think of what would make you feel more comfortable by REHEARSING the situation in your head. This may alert you to any possible difficulties. It is then your task to generate ways of overcoming these difficulties.
2. It can be useful to decide beforehand that you are only going to stay somewhere for an hour. Giving yourself a time limit may make it easier for you to relax and stay in a situation .Even if you are enjoying yourself, it still makes sense to leave at the time you promised yourself and when things are going well. This will ensure you achieve POSITIVE feedback.
3. Remember how you felt when you last heard a friend say something POSITIVE about you or when they did something which made you feel appreciated and liked.
4. Spend less time concentrating on negative thoughts about you. Instead be more focussed on others.
5. Do or say things to others, which will make them, feel good. You will in turn get POSITIVE feedback from this boosting your SELF ESTEEM.

i.      Try bringing in your neighbours wheelie bin, buying someone flowers, pay someone a compliment, invite someone to lunch, simply say thank you more often!

9. Put more FUN into your life.eg.
1. Share a joke .Try recalling something, which has made you LAUGH heartily. Watch a good comedy. Get out some old photographs. It is even better if you can share the experience with a friend. Share the LAUGHTER!
10. Get involved in some type of activity, which will raise your CONFIDENCE. People often resist the suggestion to attend a confidence building class. There is a place for them but it is perhaps not the best or the healthiest option, to put people together with others who have the same difficulty. Instead, try one of the following:
1. Join a drama, music, art, singing, or art class, take up a contact sport, challenge yourself by commencing, rock climbing, canoeing, diving, etc.
2. You will benefit from having set yourself a GOAL or CHALLENGE and by the opportunity to express yourself in a different way. You will definitely have something new and interesting to talk about.
3. If you have a family, you may choose an ACTIVITY, which you can do together such as cycling. Dance has the added benefit of being good FUN and brings you into contact with other people. SKIPPING can help increase bone density so is great for all of us over 40.Beware you are more likely to do this on your own. You could however go for a nice walk somewhere and have your ropes in your pocket.
4. If you find it difficult to fit EXERCISE into your day:  Try WALKING instead of using transport .If you must drive, park a little way from your place of work. If you take a bus, get off a few stops from where you need to. Use stairs not the lift.

                                                             ii.      If you have a sedentary job, make a point of getting out of your chair regularly and take a WALK in the building. Have a brisk twenty minute WALK at lunchtime. Try to get others ROPED in too!

                                                            iii.      This will offer opportunity to make a new group of friends. You will have a new-shared interest and a sense of camaraderie. You may need to trust and be trusted by others. You will have the opportunity to give and receive POSITIVE feedback and have FUN!!!

11. Exercise is useful in enhancing SELF ESTEEM and will also benefit you by lowering your state of arousal. This means that more stress will be required for you to be affected by it. Increased muscle tone can help you feel more confident with how you look. Pick an exercise to meet your specific needs.
12.  Stop comparing yourself with others. You will only come out of this disfavourably.
13. Stop judging others. More importantly stop judging yourself!