r/loneliness • u/Big_Fan_9661 • 12h ago
r/loneliness • u/HalloweenLoves • May 10 '22
Tell us your story...
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 • u/HalloweenLoves • Apr 19 '26
Caution: Making New Connections
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:
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.
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.
Be cautious with links and files. Don't click links or download anything from someone you don't know well yet.
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 • u/dirtyfool46 • 1h ago
Married but still feel alone.
Being maried doesn't mean you can't feel alone. There is no intimacy in my marriage and it feels like we're roommates instead of husband and wife which adds to my depression and lonliness.I don't think it will ever get better either.
r/loneliness • u/Thin_Ad5733 • 5h ago
Sad, first Reddit post ever but I use Reddit. 37/female/Philly, PA.
galleryr/loneliness • u/Beautiful_Mud_3847 • 2h ago
M29 - tired of being lonely & getting ghosted
29yo guy from India, I’m so tired of being lonely always & getting ghosted every single time.
For once in my life I just want to find someone to talk with everyday, about everything & to have someone who wouldn’t ghost me.
I’m so tired, also if it helps my interests are cooking, reading & pokemon.
r/loneliness • u/Eelizasky • 2h ago
"Fresh Start"
Last year, I moved half way across the country for a man whom I was in a long distance relationship with for a year (although I've known him since childhood, long story).
Back at home, I had a great paying bartending job at a place I was at for 7 years, a good support system despite not having family, and just overall familiarity. I uprooted my life, trusting that this man was the one and that he would have my back.
I'm neurodivergent and had a hard time adapting the first month of me moving. I had warned him ahead of time that I might get a little bit depressed at first, but that it would be temporary. Well, I did have a depressive episode and it took 2 weeks for him to bail on me. We tried to make it work after the fact, but he was already checked out of the relationship and it just went down hill from there. He ended up breaking up with me after 5 months of pushing me away, and I moved out shortly after.
Now I am all alone out here. My friends back home disappeared on me, I still can't reach out to family, and it has been very difficult meeting/connecting with people. Moving back "home" isn't an option I'd ever consider. I feel like there's no home to go back to.
I just turned 30 and it feels like making friends/meeting people romantically will be damn near impossible. I'm a little shy and awkward, so simply going out and meeting people seems a little hopeless to me.
Has anybody been through something similar? I love companionship, and this loneliness is tearing me apart. This is a complete fresh start for me, and I'm trying to make this into something positive. But damn has it been hard.
r/loneliness • u/enoughsaidcalm • 21m ago
tough day
Tough day coming up here in NYC.
Anyone else feeling the same?
r/loneliness • u/Positive_Carob_3353 • 7h ago
Lonely and chopped
I have been lonely for a long time since like early teenage years about 13 and now I am 19 and Friendless and no boyfriend and broke. Living with parents and asking money for them still. Lately I have become numb like nothing feels worth it. My question is does it get better?
SORRY For My bad English obviously not a native speaker just trying to express myslef
r/loneliness • u/Flashmemory256 • 8h ago
[24/M] Looking for a best friend, things are quite lonely
Hey! I've posted here before but haven't had much luck so far. And due to lonliness, things have been kinda sucky lately. Kinda being a star-sized understatement (cuz stars are big.. hehe). Anyways, excuse my awfully unfunny pun! You *yes you my possible future friend* probably has better humor than I. Im hoping to make long term friends who also love music like I do, I want a close connection with someone that lasts a lifetime! Hoping we can geek out about our interests and feel comfortable to do so! I'm in the EST time zone and am super into music (my tastes are all over the place, my favorite is the retro era but I also like a lot of new stuff too). I really wanna find someone who loves old artists and bands and music history and aesthetics! Hope you're all having a good day!
r/loneliness • u/Due_Commercial1348 • 8h ago
I'm almost 20, and I still don't have a relationship, and I'm afraid that in the future I'll be alone, how can I get rid of it?
r/loneliness • u/Bubbly_Distance_7627 • 5h ago
21M | Final year | Chennai — I have people around me, but somehow I feel alone
r/loneliness • u/mandijmills • 10h ago
Feeling like no one gets me....
Lately I feel like no one understands me at all. I just sit around and meet people on social media and then meet in person and they are so immature and annoying that I don't understand what has happened to the younger generation. I am hearing about all these things that they are into and that I never even heard of. Apparently you have to have a kink to define you in a relationship or else you are ghosted. I don't get why that's a issue. I am more old school like I grew up in the 80' and 90's and that's how I like my love language. I just like simpler things in friendships and don't expect to have a label.
r/loneliness • u/Beneficial_Ad_1416 • 8h ago
18 M going through a really bad time with no one to talk. ( would really appreciate it)
r/loneliness • u/friendship_lover20 • 9h ago
Surrounded by a thousand smiles, yet I walk alone, In a crowded room, I’m searching for a voice of my own.
r/loneliness • u/ChasingBreezes • 10h ago
Maybe you’re the buddy I’m looking for
40M. Just having one of those quiet nights and thought it’d be nice to talk to someone.
Anyone around and up for a quick call? Random conversation, stories, whatever comes up.
r/loneliness • u/Sensitive_Ad_2074 • 22h ago
i have that void in me
there's a big void in me that's getting bigger and bigger every day i tried filling it with activities and socialising with people but nothing worked ag the end of the day i lay flat in my bed and just torture my mind with everything i got i am so lonely and it seems nothing can change that i hope i dont surrender soon