Maintaining Friendships
It is important to have friends that you enjoy spending time with and feel you can confide in and trust. These are the people who have your best interests at heart; they make you feel positive about yourself, sharing in the good times and supporting you through the bad. That is not to say that all friendships are easy or plain sailing: it does mean, however, that you are able to resolve any problems because you value and respect each other.
Meeting New People
Establishing new friendships is just as important to your wellbeing as maintaining those that already exist. Meeting new people can, however, be nerve-wracking for some. If you feel anxious to the point where you do not attend an event or attend but do not join in, then think about talking to someone you already know and trust about your feelings. Remember, the trade-off is potentially whole stack of new and interesting people and conversations if you can combat those nerves.
Loneliness
Loneliness can be associated with a range of negative feelings, such as anxiety, fear and helplessness. It can lead to a loss of confidence, which results in an avoidance of social situations, networks and relationships, making the experience of loneliness even more intense. Sometimes people blame themselves for the feelings they are experiencing, which affects their self-esteem; sometimes people cannot see an end to their loneliness, which makes them feel powerless.
Unhealthy Relationships
Unhealthy relationships are those in which do not feel comfortable or are unable to be yourself. This might occur in a friendship, a romantic relationship or within your family unit. Although you might feel powerless in a situation like this, it is important that you reach out to get the support/help you need. You might be experiencing verbal, physical, sexual or emotional abuse, none of which is acceptable.
Young Carers
A young carer is somebody who is aged under 18 and looks someone else such as a parent, sibling or any other family member who may have a disability, serious illness, problems with their mental health or with alcohol or drugs. What might a young carer do?
