1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

A bit lonely and lost

Discussion in 'The Welcome Lounge' started by Cinnamoon, May 12, 2022.

Thread Tools

Thread Tools

Page 1 of 2
  1. Cinnamoon

    Cinnamoon
    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2022
    Messages:
    416
    Likes Received:
    323
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Hey

    I'm a 24-year-old gay guy from the UK. I'm feeling a bit lost lately. I'm comfortable in my sexuality and have been for a long time, but I've also struggled with issues around anxiety and depression a lot in my lifetime and they've had a big impact on me.

    I really want to meet new people and make new friends, but I'm too shy to use photos of myself on dating and friendship apps at the moment. I feel silly being like this for my age, but I thought maybe this forum would be a good place to come and maybe look around while I'm struggling and feeling alone.

    Low self-esteem is a bit of an issue too. I feel kind of held back in lots of ways by all the stuff I'm thinking about and dealing with. Hopefully being somewhere like this will help me build my confidence a bit so I can start to build a better life for myself.
     
    #1 Cinnamoon, May 12, 2022
  2. bsg75apollo

    bsg75apollo
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2015
    Messages:
    474
    Likes Received:
    568
    Location:
    Chicagoland
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Well, I'm 48 and I feel this way about myself quite often, so cut yourself some slack.
     
    #2 bsg75apollo, May 12, 2022
  3. Cinnamoon

    Cinnamoon
    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2022
    Messages:
    416
    Likes Received:
    323
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Thank you :slight_smile:

    To be honest I don't have a lot of people to talk to about this stuff. It's so easy to work myself up all the time, thinking I'm not good enough and asking myself why I can't do things it looks like everyone else is doing. It helps a lot to know other people feel the same.
     
    #3 Cinnamoon, May 12, 2022
  4. Lek

    Lek
    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2019
    Messages:
    159
    Likes Received:
    82
    Location:
    Southeast Asia
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Cinnamoon (I like your screen name), You are most definitely not alone.

    Your story could have been mine. Reaching out here is a good step. You have some great goals:

    1. Meeting and making friends. (I've never used an app, so perhaps someone else can talk about posting photos.)
    2. Building your confidence.
    3. Build a better life for yourself.

    Now, you can start figuring out the steps to achieve them. For me, depression, unfortunately, would overpowered me and sucked my positive energy and my goals away.

    Are you getting treatment for your depression?

    Finally, I found that an online depression forum (which has a LGBTQI+ section) was very helpful, especially for support and discussion of treatment options. (If you want the link, PM me.) Also, check out EC's links. https://emptyclosets.com/home/pages/resources.php. It has some handy links.

    And remember you are worth it and you definitely are good enough.

    Keep us posted.
     
    #4 Lek, May 12, 2022
  5. Sunchimes

    Sunchimes
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2022
    Messages:
    223
    Likes Received:
    159
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Other
    Gender Pronoun:
    Other
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Hi @Cinnamoon :slight_smile:

    You’ve come to the right place to meet new friends :slight_smile:

    welcome!
     
    #5 Sunchimes, May 12, 2022
  6. Cinnamoon

    Cinnamoon
    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2022
    Messages:
    416
    Likes Received:
    323
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Thank you!

    I'm so sorry you've gone through something similar.

    I definitely try to have goals to keep me going when I'm feeling like this.

    To be honest my depression has done the same to me for most of my life and still does this a lot to me now. I'm still trying but things aren't easy.

    I am getting treatment. I haven't started taking them yet but I was prescribed antidepressants and a sleeping aid recently by my GP. This will be the third time on antidepressants for me, I'm nervous but hoping it will go okay.

    I'd love the link! I'm not sure if I'm established enough to send pms yet though? Either that or I just can't figure it out! Either way at some point I'd love to find out about the other forum.

    And thank you for the link too I'll definitely take a look.

    Aw thank you, I don't often feel good enough but I try. It helps having encouragement in places like this. Going through this alone is so hard.

    Yay! Thank you, seems like a friendly place so far. Thank you for the welcom
     
    #6 Cinnamoon, May 13, 2022
  7. Cinnamoon

    Cinnamoon
    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2022
    Messages:
    416
    Likes Received:
    323
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Oops, my welcome wasn't fully formed. But thank you anyway :slight_smile:
     
    #7 Cinnamoon, May 13, 2022
  8. Sunchimes

    Sunchimes
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2022
    Messages:
    223
    Likes Received:
    159
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Other
    Gender Pronoun:
    Other
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Ahh no worries :slight_smile: you’re so welcom … oops welcome :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:
     
    #8 Sunchimes, May 13, 2022
  9. GraceMiamor

    GraceMiamor
    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2022
    Messages:
    68
    Likes Received:
    17
    Location:
    New London, Ohio
    Gender:
    Other
    Gender Pronoun:
    They
    Sexual Orientation:
    Questioning
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Welcome hun. Hope you have a great time and I hope you like this website as much as I do. ^^
     
    #9 GraceMiamor, May 13, 2022
  10. Stitch57

    Stitch57
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2022
    Messages:
    136
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    New York
    Gender:
    Androgyne
    Gender Pronoun:
    They
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    All but family
    Welcome! I also struggle with anxiety and depression. If you ever need someone to talk to I’m here. :slight_smile:
     
    #10 Stitch57, May 13, 2022
  11. sunbird

    sunbird
    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2021
    Messages:
    71
    Likes Received:
    62
    Location:
    England
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    Out Status:
    A few people
    Welcome @Cinnamoon you’ve joined a friendly and supportive community. Hope you find what you are looking for here :slight_smile:
     
    #11 sunbird, May 13, 2022
  12. BiGemini87

    BiGemini87
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2019
    Messages:
    1,485
    Likes Received:
    1,318
    Location:
    Pembroke, ON
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Hello @Cinnamoon, and welcome to EC! We're to help and support you in whatever way we can. :slight_smile:
     
    #12 BiGemini87, May 13, 2022
  13. Cinnamoon

    Cinnamoon
    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2022
    Messages:
    416
    Likes Received:
    323
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    I've barely been posting a day and I'm already making typos =P

    Thank you! ^^

    Aw thank you that's so nice of you to offer. I'll definitely keep that in mind, hope you're doing okay yourself :slight_smile:

    Yeah it seems really friendly so far! Thank you for the welcome ^^

    Yay, thank you :slight_smile: I think just having somewhere to browse and post will help me a lot. It's amazing what a good forum can do when I'm sat at home alone, feeling pretty miserable and down. Any way to just connect and talk a bit sometimes can make a huge difference
     
    #13 Cinnamoon, May 13, 2022
  14. Sunchimes

    Sunchimes
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2022
    Messages:
    223
    Likes Received:
    159
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Other
    Gender Pronoun:
    Other
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    No worries! I’m like that all the time lol
     
    #14 Sunchimes, May 13, 2022
  15. Cinnamoon

    Cinnamoon
    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2022
    Messages:
    416
    Likes Received:
    323
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    I'm like it much more than I should be, especially when I'm typing on a touchscreen ><
     
    #15 Cinnamoon, May 13, 2022
  16. Sunchimes

    Sunchimes
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2022
    Messages:
    223
    Likes Received:
    159
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Other
    Gender Pronoun:
    Other
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    That’s exactly what happens with me. I type on my phone or iPad and between my clumsy thumbs and autocorrect, it’s a recipe for disaster :slight_smile: :grin:
     
    #16 Sunchimes, May 13, 2022
    Last edited: May 13, 2022
  17. Cinnamoon

    Cinnamoon
    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2022
    Messages:
    416
    Likes Received:
    323
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Can definitely relate, too much

    Although most things I do tend to end in disaster these days anyway =P
     
    #17 Cinnamoon, May 13, 2022
  18. Sunchimes

    Sunchimes
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2022
    Messages:
    223
    Likes Received:
    159
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Other
    Gender Pronoun:
    Other
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Ahhh me too, me too! Some of it sad and some of it absolutely hilarious!
     
    #18 Sunchimes, May 13, 2022
  19. Cinnamoon

    Cinnamoon
    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2022
    Messages:
    416
    Likes Received:
    323
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Haha =P
     
    #19 Cinnamoon, May 13, 2022
  20. quebec

    quebec
    Moderator Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2014
    Messages:
    4,208
    Likes Received:
    2,371
    Location:
    U.S.
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Cinnamon…..Hello and a great big LGBTQIA+ welcome to Empty Closets! :old_smile: I can remember the first post that I made on EC. I was desperate for help and I got the help that I so needed. I hope that we can help you in the same way that I received help. The most important thing to remember about Empty Closets is that we do care about you! We're very glad that you found us here on EC and hope that we can answer questions, give support if you need it and provide a place to vent (as long as it's not violent!) :old_big_grin: when that becomes necessary! I decided not to tell you to see a therapist! You probably have already been told that...so I'll skip it. You do sound pretty frustrated and I hope we can help you with that at least a little because we will always be here for you to vent or just share how you feel. Anyway...we really are glad you found us! The rest of this post is info about how to navigate around EC a bit...I hope it helps! There are 18 different sub-forums here that you can check out and join in the conversations or start your own thread/conversation.
    *****When you have made at least 10 posts on various threads you will be able to post messages on a member's Profile Page. Just click on a member's Avatar Picture and then click on "Profile Page" in the dialogue box that pops up. You'll then be on their Profile Page and there will be a box that says: "Write Something" When you have been on EC for a few weeks and have made at least 50 posts on various forums, you can apply for Full Membership. A Full Member can send Private Messages (PM) to other Full Members and share personal contact info. Right now you can only send a PM to a Staff Member as that is always possible. Here is a quote from the Full Membership information forum: :old_cool:
    *****    To be eligible you must be a member of Empty Closets for a minimum of two weeks, and have a minimum of 50 posts. These posts must be across numerous forums (Fun & Games does not contribute to post count), and consistently posted across a minimum of two weeks. You wouldn't be eligible, for example, if you registered, had no activity for two weeks, and then returned to post 50 times on your 14th day of membership.
    *****Well, as I said, we're very glad you found us! :old_rolleyes: If you have any questions at all, you can post a question on my Profile Page or send me a Private Message.

    .....David :gay_pride_flag:
     
    #20 quebec, May 13, 2022
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2