©headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation says that connecting with others is an important part of being human. Healthy relationships support us, give us a sense of belonging and can improve our mental health and wellbeing.
It can be hard to develop relationships though, and if you’re feeling lonely it can make this seem even more challenging. You might feel awkward or shy or doubt yourself or your ability to make friends. But none of us are born with social skills, we learn them along the way. Building skills isn’t always easy, but with practice and patience, we can get better at it.
Putting yourself out there can feel scary, but if you want things to change, you need to support yourself and take action. When you face the things that challenge you, you start to build skills and gain confidence in your ability to cope.
Being brave increases your chances of finding meaningful connections – often the first step is the hardest part. If you don’t try, then you might never know what’s out there.