Ask Alanis Morissette: since I’ve been ill, I’ve lost contact with many friends

All the parts of you – lonely, confident, ill, outgoing – come together to make you who you are. A true friend will recognise that

A few years ago, I got very ill and I am still suffering the after-effects. I can’t work and now struggle in social situations. I am finding myself incredibly lonely, isolated and depressed. I used to be outgoing and confident, but I have been losing contact with my old friends. I had thought it was because I often turn down invitations due to being unwell, but this week I received a message from one of my oldest friends to tell me that I bring her down and that I need to cheer up. I am heartbroken. I have so much love and friendship to offer, just not in the same way I was able to before. What should I do?

Sometimes, illnesses or injuries or bouts of depression can leave us feeling completely altered. It makes sense to me that your big life adjustment would have an effect on your social life, and I have a lot of empathy for how hard that can be.

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from Health & wellbeing | The Guardian http://ift.tt/1X0nG56
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