Do you live alone?

Hi Everyone

How do you deal with living alone? And not letting it get to you or make sad? I have few close friends.

Yes, I live alone. I'm 41, and with the exception of a few months, have lived alone since I was 21. I love it. You are your own boss. Nobody harasses you to do the dishes or take out the trash. You don't have to negotiate what to buy at the store or where to go for dinner. It's wonderful.

If I need to be out among people, I go to the mall or something and people-watch, or go to a movie. I have no problem going to movies by myself, and at least there are crowds of people around me having the same experience.

The one bad thing is you get treated worse in restaurants if you go in alone. Otherwise, I'm much happier by myself than I am trying to make a bunch of other people happy!

Candy

Me too, Candybear! I love it!
Patty

I live alone, too. You get used to the peace and quiet of being by yourself. You appreciate your freedoms of not having to negotiate with a spouse or roomate over what to watch on tv, what to eat, and cleaning. You don't have to share the bathroom, a big plus!

I thought it would kill me when I first started living alone, and even now there are times when I'm sick or scared that I wish I was not alone, but for the most part, it's a good thing.

Jan

I wish. I live with my "family" and that's getting to me and making me sad and depressed.

i've lived alone for 16 years and that is why i ate two cranberry pull apart rolls for lunch!!!!!

Will living with 2 dogs and a rabbit constitute "alone?" :rotfl"

My son is moving out soon..... THE BATHROOM WILL BE MINE ALL MINE!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!
Seriously.... I love my pets....

Oh, yeah, three cats and a doggy.

I live alone also since my daughter left for college in August.....maybe even before that though.

oh,pilatus, i have four cats and three dogs...and i keep forgetting Thelma and Louise....two hens that lay one egg each every day.

i stay busy with the pets, duh....that many?, and am so used to being alone that it would probably bother me if i had very much company. i've gotten pretty weird in 16 years.

I live alone and have for about 13 years. I love it. I can do whatever I want (as long as the landlord doesn't mind) and if I want to eat ice cream naked in the kitchen at 2 in the morning there is no one to tell me not to. I don't actually do this but if I wanted to I could.

Jbug

Does anyone having any coping strategies for ppl that do have feelings of loneliness and sadness from living alone?

Take in a pet. Look at the course listings at your local community college and take a class. Get involved in a church.

But it is important to learn to become comfortable with yourself, too.

So admire all you who are making it alone!!!!!!
mlyn

I lived alone 13 years. It is very hard! Fortunately I was in a city and had a few things (library, for example) in walking distance. I joined the Friends of the Library and I got a local community garden in the spring/summer, things like that. So, I occasionally had places to go and eventually I found a friend or two. Having a project or goal, even if only saving up for a house or something else "big" you want (school, travel, etc.) can help focus you outside of just where you "are" now and move you forward a bit. I would save for writing courses and conferences, etc. When I changed jobs in 1974 from a Federal job and got my "retirement" money (only a few hundred dollars) I bought a big office typewriter (since it was before computers :-) and worked on my poetry, etc. Get some "theme" going in your life and that helps some.

Pilatus,

I do live alone but with my cat. I don't like it. My son moved out last year and I have had a very very hard time adjusting! I thought I liked living alone, but I have been anxious, sad, lonely and hoping therapy will help me either to learn to be content and feel okay being alone or make changes toward not being alone.

My cat helps but I feel frantic a lot.

Therapy is helping.

ECHOES