[sph123]

I thought I would share this nytimes article I came across that may help put in perspective the loneliness many of us feel. I know, with depression, loneliness is so painful. I feel it all the time. I have a few friends, but they have their own lives, their own problems, and it's hard to lean on them for support.

So I thought I would share this and maybe some of us would see that nothing is wrong with us, even non-depressed, out-going people feel frustrated with their social network.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/fa...pagewanted=all

[glok]

Hello, sph123. Thank you for sharing.

[globalflight]

thanks for your article. it's very useful

I had read that article about a couple of years ago. And I have come back to it to read it over again. Very good article and very true.

When you reach middle age and have not been married, it seems like you are cooked as far as making friends is concerned. I am middle aged myself and never been married, so I know what I'm talking about. Especially being a male, it seems harder.

[tickledviolet73]

Thanks for posting this it was a perfect time to read it. I just turned 40 and am single. I feel part of my depression is watching my friend's lives take off while I've been treading water here for years. Luckily I do have good friends I can call esp when times are tough but none of them live in the same town.

[sph123]

Right there with you all and glad this helped some people. When you're single, such as myself, finding a supportive network when you suffer from depression is so hard. An article like this reminds me that it's not just me, everyone has a hard time forming new, solid friendships into adulthood.

I hear everyone on here. I'm in my early 30s and feel lonely a lot. I really get Violet's comment about watching your friends take off. And the lack of a long term partner with a loving relationship I know makes things harder, too. I basically don't have anyone I can be completely vulnerable and open with, and that is hard.

[Altered Moment]

It is true I met all my friends in High School and through work. It is so hard otherwise. I have had many transitory friends. I have moved a lot or they moved and we never kept in contact. I have now moved to my hometown and am reconnecting slowly with high school friends. Some are true and supportive (three so far) and others I will have to be guarded with and stick to the superficial.

I have found that I can have people in my life who also suffer from depression but they are not really friends. Like in a support group or just people I meet. I don't have to be really close friends with them but just knowing they are there and truly understand me really helps.

[A.Lone]

While I haven't read it carefully, I have saved it as a favorite so I don't lose it. Skimming through it, it looks interesting and worth sharing with other people!

Thanks!

[Voss]

It's easy to magnify, yes. I tend to compare myself to others but have made a few friends who understand that my social life isn't like theirs and perhaps shouldn't be.