Hi Zen...I have struggled with loneliness most of my life. I can relate to being around people and yet still feeling alone. It is a feeling that seemed to never leave me--24x7 I was alone...even if I was surrounded by people who cared about me.

I think, my loneliness has only gotten better because I have opened myself up to feeling things...I was really detached from my emotions. It seemed I could feel sad and lonely and sometimes angry, but overall, I just felt distant from myself. I think the key is not in being around others or keeping myself busy. I think, for me, I needed to learn to be okay with me...to let myself feel whatever was gurgling inside of me.

Keeping my emotions blocked off made me feel empty. When I am in touch with my feelings, I don't feel lonely, even if nobody is around. I always have myself to be with. Before I could really feel like I was "with " others or let them into my life, I had to feel like I was "with" myself. Instead of looking to others to cure my loneliness, I had to look inside myself. If I get too out of touch with my emotions, I can't connect with others because I am not in touch with myself...then I get lonely.

It was not easy to accept myself and my feelings, but it is how I overcame some of my loneliness. Your feeling of loneliness does not have to last forever. Start by looking inside yourself...just what are you really feeling? When I could answer that question, then I could feel the love others offered me. Then the loneliness started to fade...and, really feeling loved, I mean really accepting it from others and feeling it in my heart keeps even the most ardent feelings of loneliness at bay.