There are times when there’s nothing you can do to avoid or alter social stress. Times when people won’t like you no matter what you do or don’t do. When it happens, you need to follow these steps to cope:
- Don’t take it personally. Develop a thick skin. Take pride in your ability to tolerate isolation, alienation, and social conflict.
- Remind yourself that self-respect and integrity come first. To be alone is not necessarily to be lonely.
- Schedule time to just be alone with yourself. Don’t wait until you’re having someone over to make your living space warm, pleasant, and inviting. Keep it that way for the most important person in your life—you. Don’t wait until you have company for dinner to set a nice table and prepare a good meal. Do it for yourself. You deserve it.
- If you have the room and facilities, a pet can be a wonderful source of companionship and can alleviate stress and loneliness.
- Find ways to meet people – join a club or society that is a subject you are interested in, and you will instantly find people with whom you have something in common.
- Try volunteer work to boost your social life.
- The internet has a brilliant array of match-making sites, and it is no longer taboo to say you met the love of your life online. Why not have fun with it, and go out on a few dates – practice those intimacy skills.
