The sense of not belonging or fitting in, the hopelessness, the uncertainty: Isolation is a breeding ground for all of these things. Reaching out and connecting with others is a great way to get grounded and to move beyond what you are feeling in the moment.

Of course, not every connection is created equally. Some may even contribute to your feeling worse rather than better – as is the case with pro-ana or pro-mia websites. Keep this in mind when you reach out.

So where can you turn instead?

Connecting Online

Twitter is one option if you’re interested in making connections in real time. Facebook offers a number of pages that are pro-recovery. Leaving comments on blogs can inspire conversations.

Connecting in the “Real World”

Call a friend. Call your therapist. Call a family member. Go to a local coffeeshop or a favorite hangout where you know that you’re likely to see friends. Go to a concert or a movie – even if you go alone.

Being around people helps sometimes, even if you aren’t with people you know well. I’ve often headed to movie theaters or to see bands play when I’ve needed to be around people and haven’t felt up to talking; mostly it’s worked to drag me out of the unpleasant head space. At the very least, it’s proven to be a distraction.

Where do you turn when you’re looking to make a connection?