This article provides tips for self-help in times of stress and loneliness, such as taking breaks, allowing yourself to feel emotions, and seeking conversation partners. Neighbors can help by listening, taking time, and offering practical support. Additionally, important counseling centers and phone numbers for psychological and pastoral care assistance are listed.
Are you not feeling well or feeling lonely? Have you perhaps experienced a traumatic event that has burdened you so much that you have withdrawn?
You are not alone in this. Many people feel the same way as you do. The good news is: you can do something about it!
In the following article, we would like to give you a few more tips and provide a collection of possible contact addresses.
Self-Help
What can you do for yourself?
If you have experienced a particularly stressful event or notice that you simply are not feeling well, it can be helpful to give yourself some rest. Take time to process what happened or to question why you are feeling this way.
- Pay increased attention to your current needs and take time for them.
- Do not suppress your feelings; talk about them with trusted people. If you have no one to talk to, you might find someone in your neighborhood, like Claudia from Hamburg.
- Remain silent if you do not want to talk.
- Try to return to your usual daily routine as soon as possible.
- Do not expect time to simply erase your memories. Your current feelings will occupy you for longer.
- Spend time on things that usually bring you joy and relaxation.
- Do not hesitate to seek psychological and pastoral care help.
What can you do as a neighbor if you notice that a neighbor is not doing well?
Understanding from others can greatly help those affected to cope better with what they have experienced. Often, just the feeling of not being alone feels very good.
If those affected talk about their experiences and feelings, then
- Listen
- Take your time
- Take the feelings of those affected seriously
- If those affected want to remain silent, respect their need for peace.
- After some events, it is necessary to organize and take care of various things. Practical support can be very relieving.
If you feel that a neighbor is doing very poorly and you do not want to intervene yourself, you can also contact one of these counseling and support services:
Contact Addresses:
- By phone: 0800 / 111 0 111, 0800 / 111 0 222, or 116 123
- By email and chat at online.telefonseelsorge.de
- On-site counseling: http://www.telefonseelsorge.de/?q=node/7647 (nationwide in Germany)
- Diakonie: https://www.diakonie.de/informieren/einrichtungssuche
- Emergency pastoral care: http://www.notfallseelsorge.de/
- Muslim Telephone Counseling: 030 44 35 09 821