Having No One to Talk to About Your Depression

It can be hard to find someone to talk to about your depression yet it is one of the first pieces of advice people give. Others tell you to find someone to talk to. That someone could be a friend, a family member, or a professional therapist. Whoever it is, the important thing is that you have someone to talk to about your depression. But sometimes, for whatever reason, we have no one.

Having a social support system is crucial. Living with mental illness is exhausting and can overtax an already strained mind. A social support system shares in the heavy-lifting with you so that you have room to breathe. 

Unfortunately, we do not all have access to a robust social support system. In some cases, we do not have a single person to turn to for support. Does this mean our situation is hopeless? Does this mean there is no way to help ourselves? 

Who Can You Talk to About Your Depression When You Have No One?

If we do not have a social support system to rely on, the only other option is to act as our own social support system. This can be difficult depending on the way the symptoms of your depression manifest, but it is not impossible. Try these three techniques:

1. Journaling -- Journaling is a great way to articulate your thoughts and feelings the way you would to another person but to yourself. In fact, in some ways, it is even more effective considering the complete privacy of a journal. You can write at your own pace, go off on tangents, and be as honest as you want without fear of judgment. 
2. Watching movies/TV and reading books -- Watching film and television and reading books is one way to help you feel connected when you feel alone. You may find yourself identifying with fictional characters navigating their fictional world. Having ready access to these characters and being able to engage with them on your own terms can be comforting in difficult times.
3. Drawing, painting, writing, etc. -- Bringing yourself to do proactive things such as drawing and painting when you are depressed can be tricky. But if you are able to, engaging in creative activity can be a powerful tool for expressing yourself when a conversation is not an option. Talking about your thoughts and feelings is not easy. Having an outlet through which to express those thoughts and feelings in a more abstract way can feel gratifying and instill confidence.

Having someone to talk to is invaluable. Consider yourself lucky if have that special person in your life. But being alone is no excuse to give up on your mental health. It is an obstacle, but one that can be dealt with just like every obstacle that has come before. Take the appropriate steps, take responsibility, and take a chance at acting as your own support system.

Who do you talk to about your depression? If there's no one, what do you do to remedy the problem?