[trdleblue]

I am curious as to how many of you have people you are close to in life. I am a loner, and I wonder how much that effects me in trying to get to a healthier place.

[Ike McCaslin]

My wife and daughter and maybe 3 or 4 close friends: all from college or high school(now in my 50's). I am a Big I-introvert so I am the exception rather than the rule. A great book is Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain. My T recommended and I found it very comforting. It really resonated with me. It helped me embrace who I am, and not try to live my life for other's expectations.

[WikidPissah]

I have a H, for 28 yrs. My family is 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren. I have friends, but they don't know about my mental health issues.

[AngelWolf3]

I have family and my roommate, who is moving out soon with her boyfriend...so just family, no close friends or really anyone to"hang out" with or trust if I chose. As far as recovery goes its easier sometimes because I don't have to explain to anyone, but it is hard with no one to talk to except T...my family doesn't know what I am going through now. Just from when I was I'm high school.

No one really. I mean I'm married, but really no one.

[Victoria'smom]

I have friends from college, family I talk to regularly, but I only have my son, husband and cousin in law in the live less then 12 hrs away from us.

[autotelica]

In my day-to-day life? No one. I have family that lives far away, who I contact once every two-three weeks through email/phone calls.

I talk to people at work, but I don't consider any of them friends. Just nice people to work with.

If I had someone, I would not feel so attached to my therapist, I think. So in that way, the isolation is anti-therapeutic. But I also know that I have a very low tolerance to "people" stress. So my isolation is also rather protective.

I am a loner. My family lives in another province so I am here all alone. Our regular correspondence via email eases my loneliness. Visiting with my one and only friend once or twice a month also helps.

Originally Posted by trdleblue

I am curious as to how many of you have people you are close to in life. I am a loner, and I wonder how much that effects me in trying to get to a healthier place.

i have my T

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by roseleigh7

No one really. I mean I'm married, but really no one.

((Roseleigh))

[Chopin99]

I have my parents (a messed-up relationship, but it exists...if push came to shove, they would support me), an H, and 4 close friends.

Technically I have my parents, though I do not consider them good emotional support. I have my sister who I am very close to, and one friend who I can tell anything and everything to, but he doesn't live near me. Though I am by nature quiet and not interested in a lot of social interaction, I know I need a few more positive people in my life.

[missbelle]

I have friends and family and two cats in residence but sometimes would like someone in my life .....someone who says hi honey when I come home

I'm married, but I stopped trying to get emotional support from H ten years ago. A lot of my mental energy goes into pretending to be fine when I'm around him. Mother and siblings live close, geographically, but I wouldn't dream of telling them about emotional/mental issues - we've never been the kind of family where that would be possible. I have one or two close friends I can talk to about some things.

[Gadgetsmile]

I have my dad but he doesn't understand.
I have my four year old, who is my world.
Other than that, I have no one

[tigerlily84]

I have my mom, my older brother, and my friend. Sometimes I don't know if they truly understand though. I feel guilty depending on them. I still feel lonely not having a boyfriend.

[unaluna]

I didn't vote. I have T, friends, family, and acquaintances, in ascending order of closeness or importance, I guess. but there is a big drop-off after friends. heck, there's a big drop-off before T.

[taylor43]

My husband only!

I have adult children, husband & friends. But I can choose to be a loner within that. I think I've always had people in my life. I just couldn't see them through my wounds.

[murray]

I used to have a H and very limited contact w/family and friends.

Now that I am no longer with H I have found that my other relationships have improved. Sadly I didn't quite understand that I was being isolated by controlling H. Oh well. So now I am without a partner sadly but have closer relationship with my mom and several wonderful friends that mean the world to me.

[BlessedRhiannon]

I have my parents and extended family, but I don't really confide in any of them. If it were an emergency, I know they'd support me, but it's not really a support network I choose to rely on.

I have a few very close friends, that feel more like family to me. We are there for each other and I feel comfortable relying on them for support.

Then, there's my T. I think she's awesome, and I rely on her for support as well. Just in the last few weeks, though, I've started pulling away, and I'm trying to work through that now.

well i was tempted to say no one, as that's usually the case- no one wants to understand me.

but then i do have shaun who i talk to sometimes- he's far from understanding, but he's their.

so ticked friends

I have no one. The only person i have to talk to, or feel close to, or feel that really loves me, is my T.

i have my two sons, my mom (not always a good thing) and a few close friends. in the process of developing another friendship.

i would like an S.O. about once every six months just for one night of cuddling.... but alas... just me and my dog.

[mcl6136]

i have two sisters who are the blessings of my life, my mom, who is increasingly emotionally fragile. I have close friends here where i live and lifelong friends in other communities. And I gotta include my dog too!

I've always objected to the notion of "significiant others..." as if my sisters, mom, pals and dogs are "insignificant" by comparison.

Just not so!

Friendship is the most underestimated concept in "modern" life, imho.

sorry for the rant