"Making friends as an adult is hard!". This sentiment comes from the lack of consistent community spaces, decreased time for socialization, and/or the work involved in finding friendship not being made a priority in many people's lives. With loneliness and isolation being one of the largest contributors to depression, I see this as a huge issue! Solid and healthy friendships can not only prevent negative mental health symptoms - they also can lift us up as we strive for our goals and support us as we move through difficult times.
Below I provided a list of journal topics that can help you reflect on the health of your current friendships and explore new opportunities to build your community. These can be something you ponder alone in a journal, with a trusted partner, or in therapy. Pick one that you feel comfortable and safe exploring and spend the time necessary to dive into it. The answers to these questions are often lengthy and not very concise. I encourage you to lean into this! Rambling can be an important step as we grow and work towards a clear answer.