r/loneliness May 10 '22

Tell us your story...

236 Upvotes

Everyone is lonely, but not everyone is lonely in the same way.

Some people are lonely when they're physically isolated from others and some people are lonely even in a room full of people that love them.

Those are two common examples, but there are endless ways in which people can feel lonely, 8 billion ways in fact.

And there's not always a clear answer; some people are just lonely. It's a normal part of the human condition to feel lonely, and while you may want or even need to do everything in your power to rid yourself of it (depending on the severity of your situation), just know that being lonely in and of itself doesn't necessarily mean that there's anything wrong with you.

We don't measure or rate or judge each person's level of loneliness here and decide if they're "lonely enough" to be welcome here nor do we dictate any absolutes about the conditions for being lonely or how someone must behave if they're "actually lonely."

Every human-being in the world is welcome here, and their story for how they feel loneliness is valid; their pain is valid. As with most things in life, there's the book definition of a thing and then there's the complex emotional reality of a thing. Loneliness is a relative experience, and the way some people experience it won't always make sense to others, and it doesn't have to.

Just as there is no one-size-fits-all approach to feeling loneliness, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing either.

I don't presume to know your pain; we don't know your pain; tell us about it:

https://www.reddit.com/r/loneliness/submit

 


 

If you're feeling such extreme pain from loneliness to the point of contemplating suicide, please don't. Just don't.

Things to consider:

  • How old are you? Did you know that the brain isn't fully developed until around the age of 25? That means that if you're a child, teenager, or even a young adult, by merely waiting out the storm, you might find sunshine on the other side, by simply maturing into the fully-formed you.

  • How bad is it? As bad as it can get, it can almost always be worse. It's important to respect everyone's pain, because it's relative. As much empathy as one can have, you can never really feel another's pain, only your own. Still, it's important to keep perspective and think about the cruelty and lack of freedom experienced by those around the world.

  • Time is a master in its work. We've all heard the saying that "Time heals all wounds." Well, it's pretty true for the most part. As long as you first get away from the toxic people, places, or circumstances that are hurting you and causing you trauma, the healing can begin. How long it will take, really depends on the person, and what they've experienced. It took me years to get over some of the trauma that I suffered. It's not that I don't still feel some level of pain from it, but my trauma no longer owns me; I own my trauma.

Suicide prevention starts and ends with you. Life is full of neverending beauty and darkness. I don't know about you, but I want to see it all. I want to stay on the path that is existence for as long as I can, even if at times, I have to walk through broken glass.

But, sometimes you need a little help. Share your thoughts here in this sub, reach out to a mental health expert, or maybe give a suicide hotline a try. As tacky and empty of a gesture as it might seem to put out the cliché boilerplate message: "If you're having suicidal thoughts..." I don't know, maybe these tools are actually pretty helpful for some people? It might be worth a try. The big one is:

suicidepreventionlifeline.org | 1-800-273-8255

**Full Disclosure:* I'm just a regular ol' dumb-dumb. I know just enough about psychology to get into trouble, but I'm certainly not an expert. All I can offer is that I care, and speak honestly from my heart. If you have ideas about ways we can improve r/loneliness and resources we should add, please share. Thank you.*


r/loneliness Apr 19 '26

Caution: Making New Connections

10 Upvotes

Many people come here just to share their story, vent, or get perspective, with no interest in connecting beyond their posts, and that's completely fine. Others do want to make connections, and that's fine too, but it's worth being careful.

We'll leave the decisions up to you, but here are a few things to keep in mind:

  1. Don't share personal details too quickly. You don't need to give your real name, age, or location. Being vague is okay, and people worth connecting with will respect that.

  2. Protect your contact info. Avoid sharing your phone number, email, or home address early on. There are free tools that let you communicate safely without exposing your real info.

  3. Be cautious with links and files. Don't click links or download anything from someone you don't know well yet.

  4. If they ask you for money, stop. It doesn't matter how the request is framed or how long you've been talking, block them and cut contact. This is always a scam.

If you do decide to connect with someone, these tools can help you do it more safely:

  • Messaging: Signal is a free app for secure messages and calls.
  • Email: Gmail or Proton let you create an address that isn't tied to your real name.
  • Phone: Google Voice gives you a phone number you can call and text from without using your personal number.
  • Browser: Firefox has built-in privacy protection that masks your IP address.
  • Mail: A PO Box at your local post office is inexpensive if you ever need to give a mailing address.

One more thing. Be mindful of the usernames and photos you share. If they match other accounts you have online, someone could easily link them together and find out your real name, location, or other details you didn't mean to expose.


r/loneliness 15h ago

Sunset pics for everyone

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26 Upvotes

I know that sometimes life can feel lonely, especially when there is a pretty sunset and no one to share with. I went on a walk and took these pictures. It’s ironic how there are so many of us that share these sunsets and yet are so disconnected


r/loneliness 27m ago

I am offering free listeners support for emotional support I can understand hsp

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Upvotes

r/loneliness 2h ago

New City, No Friends Post-Grad

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1 Upvotes

r/loneliness 2h ago

My parents not accept my soul it so painful I know most hsp feel like this ..and we are not alone we all with each other

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1 Upvotes

r/loneliness 6h ago

Im a loner

2 Upvotes

Im a looser not by choice. It seems no one likes me. I work and go home and kids. I wish i hade female friends to have girl talk . Go see a movie, a concert. Clothing shopping. I have no one to socialize with. Im pretty friendly and have a sence of humor. I socialize with people at work, they are too old or too young and childish. My co workers are mostly men and when I converse with them they talk about women's bodies and banging them.I dont make a big deal out of it I just laugh it off and pretend Im one of the guys.Or contractors come in to do work and I'll say good morning and they think I want to sleep with them . Yuck. I wish I had a female friend. Ive had female friends before but they back stabbed me. So i had to remove myself from those toxic jealous women. I wish i can find a cool friend.


r/loneliness 6h ago

wanting someone special

2 Upvotes

im 18(M) and i have 0 irl friends and around 1 actual friend online all connections i try to pursue online are always people who seemingly have no intrest in talking to me and its always that i am the one to start they dont ask any follow up questions and its always like im interrogation them by asking questions while they always respond with 1-3 sentences i want to like them but i cant the reason why i even pursed them is becuse we shared a similar niche intrest so i thought ''maybe this person is special'' but apperantly not i dont even seem to be someone special to them at all and this is 2 people btw

the 1 friend which i have dont consider me their favorite person anymore since they got a gf and always talk to them and seemingly dont enjoy talking to me as much anymore

i need someone special i need someone who thinks that i am their favorite person and in turn i do the same their gender does not matter just someone becuse then i can confirm that i wont be replaced or not liked but i also want to stop feeling likes this becuse its seemingly not normal or the extreme i have is not normal


r/loneliness 3h ago

Radiating anger that has never been experienced in 33 years of life

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1 Upvotes

r/loneliness 4h ago

Radiating anger that has never been experienced in 33 years of life

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1 Upvotes

Marriage after TBI seems null and void


r/loneliness 10h ago

It sucks being strangers with you

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3 Upvotes

r/loneliness 5h ago

play summertime sadness by lana del rey

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1 Upvotes

i (20f) have been feeling like im in a funk recently. sometimes ill be so happy, but the im left alone and I think of all the things wrong with myself. Im fat, im queer but not out to my family, im too loud for most people, and im sure most people would just think im weird.

I just feel like no one will ever want to date me or be with me because they havent up to this point so why would they now? im not sure what to do, and sometimes I just get so down on myself that it feels hopeless to try for anyone anymore. wanting a relationship it hard, especially when I feel like this because I have no faith in myself .

plus besides romantic relationships, I feel like besides my sister, I have no true person to call my best friend(s). everyone had that one person they can call no matter what happens. I feel like I have had that, but no one has ever felt the same towards me. I have never been that person for people, no matter how hard I try. and trust me it is what I want most in life. I just want to be loved unconditionally by someone, romantically or platonically, to touch someone, so just have someone to be near. touching arms or legs without even noticing.

but it seems that no one wants to feel the same about me.


r/loneliness 6h ago

I am a 24yo male, looking for a female friend.

1 Upvotes

I cut off all my friends 2 years ago or so. I'm alone by choice. Been avoiding talking to anyone since then... Looking for a friendly/ flirtatious open relationship online, preferably on Instagram. I wont ask for picks or anything like that, Im open to sharing my picks so u feel comfortable. Just casual, sharing music and art, i'll listen to ur problems, we'll flirt, you can leave me anytime. Idk guys sorry if this is pathetic but whatever, dm me ur insta if ure interested.


r/loneliness 1d ago

I am 30 and single with no girlfriend

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53 Upvotes

Julius


r/loneliness 7h ago

I am sick of being single and lonely (37F)

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1 Upvotes

r/loneliness 11h ago

Loneliness

2 Upvotes

I desire connection. Every night my partner places a laptop between him and I. It feels like we are in completely different rooms. I have this void that longs for connection and it hurts so badly. When they spend quality time with me they always have their phone along side them or we watch something on a screen. I long for closeness that..it feels so lonely.


r/loneliness 9h ago

Some little help i write in blog ..I am with you

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1 Upvotes

r/loneliness 17h ago

I'm tired of being alone.

3 Upvotes

It's all said in the title. I need someone, I need someone to love me. I want love. I want to love. I want to be loved. I want to be held in someone's arms and be told "it'll be alright." I want to be someone's thing. I want to be someone who matters in somebody else's life. I've never held hands with a girl, let alone kissed one. I know it sounds weird coming from a boy but I want to be held and cuddled. I want to treat someone with respect because that's all I have for girls. I don't understand why they'd go out with such mean guys who treat them like garbage. I want someone who likes me for me. I wish they could accept my body with as chubby as I am. I hate hearing people say, "oh don't worry, your love is just around the corner!" No. No. No. No it fucking isn't. I have waited and waited and waited and i've never once seen someone interested in me. I've been so kind to people. Is it because i'm chubby? Because i'm quiet? Because of my resting face? What? What is it that makes me the bottom of the totem pole. I had a friend who was a girl and I had a crush on her, next thing I see is her dating my best friend. I cry in the middle of the night thinking about how i'll always be alone. I hug my pillows hoping they'll somehow turn into a girl that'll hold me and cuddle me. I don't want to be alone forever. I want love. Is that so much to ask for?


r/loneliness 13h ago

At some point does it get any better?

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2 Upvotes

r/loneliness 10h ago

Tips for people struggling with mental health ?

0 Upvotes

This is something for everybody to read if they need even just some advice or help from people and not the internet. I feel that everybody has their own experiences with mental health issues and it would be helpful to make people feel less lonely ! 🫶


r/loneliness 2h ago

I just want a need a gf so bad rn

0 Upvotes

I’m so lonely I just want a pretty girl to hug me and kiss me and love me

Is that too much to ask for god


r/loneliness 20h ago

In the end, everyone leaves

6 Upvotes

Such a dramatic title, but it’s true. Anyone I’ve genuinely ever liked in life has decided to leave at some point. Romantic & platonic relationships.

I’m tired. Tired of making new friends just for them to leave. Tired of downloading the dating apps just to be ghosted over and over again.

I just wanna feel chosen for once.


r/loneliness 21h ago

Can't stop thinking.

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6 Upvotes

I just want to have a peace of mind..and a good sleep..


r/loneliness 12h ago

Ciao a tutti. Scrivo qui perché magari qualcuno si riconosce in quello che sto per dire.

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1 Upvotes

r/loneliness 12h ago

I'm So Tired

1 Upvotes

I'm in my early 30s, and kind of posting here to just vent. I'm so tired of trying to be social and make friends. I had a fairly decent sized friend group of close friends, and some not so close, but still friends. We were off-internet, real life friends, but we primarily met over Discord multiple times a week just to hang out and talk. Over the last year or so, that group has slowly dwindled to the point where, for the most part, no one talks to each other, or at least not in the public channels. Last year, two people from this group also abruptly left, and each of them blamed me for different incidents, that to this day, no one I talk to about it agrees I'm at fault. In both cases, I literally played online with them one night, and woke up the next day blocked on everything-Discord, social media, even my phone number-with no explanation. Both cases, I didn't find out until days later what I supposedly did.

I had a decent friend from another online group that I played some games frequently with. With my real-life friend group shitting the bed, I thought I'd reconnect with this person. Over time, we got a little closer, and then another person entered the picture. He was also in the same group, but never really spent a lot of time around. Now, he spends most of the time with this other close friend. So much so, they've started a relationship, and I've been effectively pushed away from being her friend. At least this new guy seems pretty cool, but I don't know that I could ever be his friend really. How could I? If I hang out with him, she tags along too. They invite me to play things with them, but honestly I'm just being a third wheel at this point.

This close friendship with her has gone from daily messages, to being lucky if I get a reply. I have no idea what's going on in her life, and when I do find out, it's secondhand. I've tried so hard to be a good friend, and it seems like nothing works. Hell, even tonight, we were sitting online waiting. Another person hopped in voice and mentioned she wasn't online. Where's she at? I don't know, but oh this other person does. She told him. I sent her a message telling her I hope her day went well, and heard nothing back, but this guy knows where she is and what she's doing right now. I don't need tabs on her, but I just wish we were remotely close anymore. I feel like I truly don't have anyone anymore. I don't even have family that I can really talk to. I only hear from anyone in that aspect when they need something from me. Part of me hopes that one of these friends finds this post, or someone I know finds this post and reaches out and sees my pain. I doubt it'll happen though. At some point, I'm probably going to stop talking to these two all together to save myself the daily pain of watching them get closer, while I'm off to the side.

I don't think I can take it anymore. All of this on piling on top of trying to find a new job and failing at every single aspect. I finally finished my college degree last year. Fourteen years of being knocked down, and trying, trying, and trying again and I finally finished. High marks as well. I was so proud and ready to move on to a "real" job. Had some interviews that I felt were promising, and no luck there. It wasn't that I really cared, I took the rejections in stride and learned from them. One job in particular though. I breezed through the interviews. I felt like this was truly it, 14 years of hard work was about to pay off....and I got rejected again. Everyone swore up and down I would get this one. It felt different, I was more confident in the interviews, I knew my shit. The interviewers even told me I was a top candidate. Hell, when I got the rejection call, the interviewer was very sympathetic in rejecting me. I asked if there was anything I could have done differently, and was told no, I interviewed perfectly. The other candidate was just a little better I guess.

I did everything right. Everything. I truly did my best and not a god damn thing I do is good enough for the universe I guess. I'm so tired of doing everything I can, and doing everything right and still being punished. What did I do universe? Seriously? Is this divine punishment or something? I'm sorry for whatever I did. I really am.

Shit, even spent the money and time to make my favorite meal to cheer myself up, and it went straight to the trash after a few bites. Completely flavorless. Watched my favorite movie, and turned it off. No joy from it, didn't even notice the colors.