I come from a family of four children, but none of us check in on each other anymore, or at least they don’t check in on me. I live with my mom, at 29, but she actually makes me feel more depressed living with her because I so value my independence. I had to leave my apartment last summer because my landlord terminated the lease… so it was not a move by choice by any means, but rather because I couldn’t afford anywhere available. Rent is crazy where I live nowadays.

My dad is in a memory care unit due to early onset Alzheimer’s, but my parents split almost a decade ago anyhow. He’s kind of a vegetable of a human, and I miss his stubborn ways, so I haven’t seen him in a while, because he’s just not really there mentally. It’s tough. 

Family is not a stable or supportive community for me. Grandparents are all dead, and losing them to begin seemed like the beginning of our the disintegration of my family to be honest, like losing a foundation of sorts. Other less immediate family members all live in different states and I am not close with them nor do I communicate with anyone unless I visit. It’s been 3 years or more since I’ve seen any of them.

I have lost most of my friendships over the last 3 years as well. I have one friend who I communicate with occasionally who lives 45 minutes away. I don’t have a car. Another friend is pretty unstable and also far away. I have people I see at work but I don’t call them my friends… at least not yet.

Three months ago I went through a break up of sorts, although it wasn’t officially a relationship, since we never were in the same page, but I lost someone’s presence in my life who was very important to me. 

I have a therapist, but that’s about it in terms of support. I just don’t feel like I have anyone to turn to when I need to not feel like such an incredible burden. 

How many of you also lack the kind of nurturing community that is often necessary to maintain all around wellness? I have been content on my own in my past, but that is also when I had people to turn to when I needed them or rather more often simply wanted their company.

I’m struggling and I know a lot of you all are too. How do we build community these days in a way that helps us? I’m trying on here, but I’m still a big supporter of “in-person” communication and support. 

Reaching out via social media makes me feel even worse about myself, and somehow anonymity helps here, I think, but anyways, I’m just curious where you all are coming from.