Coping with Loneliness?

So I'm feeling incredibly lonely tonight. I don't have anyone to call. I don't have any friends, for that matter. It's a weekend like every other for the past five years now... I sit in my room alone on the computer and try my hardest to ignore it. But then nights like tonight come around and suddenly I can feel the loneliness physically like a void in my chest, and it aches like all hell. It feels like I'm alone in the world... Is anyone else out there?

Please, tell me if it's not too much trouble: How do YOU cope with loneliness?

I'm out here. I'll be your friend.

Well youve answered it yourself. 'I sit in my room alone in front of my computer' You have to force yourself to go out and talk to people. I know its hard. I do everything on my own and i'm fed up with my own company but i go out. Yesterday i spent the day in London. Went to 2 exhibitions, had a salt beef beigel, (you say bagel we say beigel) and went to my poetry group meetup ( got lost and went to the wrong cafe amongst other things) and read out my risque poems which bamboozled them and had a good day. Thats the answer. If you can, GET OUT.

It is hard once you have get into the habit of just being on your computer all the time, I used to do that quite often. Going out and meeting others can be hard, so I know how you feel. I have a few close friends but when I need someone to talk to and they aren't around, I do feel alone. Most of the time though I love my own company, I can learn new things and do what I want, I watch films, exercise/gym, go for walks, places I can enjoy without needing others....but sometimes it does feel awful when you have no one to talk to

I seek respite from loneliness in my computer as well. Unfortunately since 'real' contacts with other people (actual conversation as opposed to a like or brief comment on a Facebook status) are far and few between, the internet becomes a place where lonlieness breeds rather then providing sanctuary. For me it helps to get out if I can, and if I cannot, being productive around the house helps. I am aware of this, yet I still allow myself to be sucked into the computer when I'm lonely.

All i have is my husband and son, my son is going through some hard times and i don't have anyone else to talk to as i'm secluded in a country like setting, my husband works alot and i am home alone every day, i do need to make friends, but don't seem to be able to as i don't work and am on disability. I don't drive because of my disability, wish I could work, but seizures stop me as i'm scared i'll have one when i'm out of the house. I'm also on soo many meds it makes me hard to even think of working.

Loneliness has been something I have struggled with for as long as I can remember. People will tell you that you need to force yourself to socialize, find a club, interact with more people, but what I found was that doing those things reinforced the feeling of loneliness I had because all of the interaction felt shallow and tedious. Being around people doesn’t make you feel any less lonely .

What helped me cope with loneliness (and ultimately beat the feeling and develop a social life) was to focus my attention on something important to me . I became active in a non-profit organization that advocates for something I believe in and I started a blog on the Internet dedicated to that interest of mine . Now my blog has almost 900 subscribers and more than 19, 000 viewers from 102 countries, and I would later meet my future GF through that blog of mine .

You can always message me if it helps!

I suppose I should have mentioned that I'm a social phobic, so "getting out" is very uncomfortable. And I know that's probably the main reason for my loneliness. I just wanted to know how other people handle it, no matter the cause.

I understand your feelings of loneliness . I have them too and they physically hurt and they depress me.I don't have even one person to share my life. My loneliness also frightens me because its necessary component is knowing that if I really need something no one would be there to assist me. I'm afraid of having to undergo treatment for and recover from serious health conditions solo. I miss loving , I miss laughing , I miss sharing. Of all of the curses attendant to my depression , the loneliness is the most nefarious .
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I hardly ever have the feeling of loneliness, but tonight I know what you mean... I'm feeling REALLY lonely right now.

You are not alone at all in feeling this way. Loneliness is something that can drive most of us to near insanity. It feels like you're trapped in an endless void... I don't know if I can really say I cope well with it. I try to distract myself from it, but to no avail. It usually just ends up passing after so long. Anyway, if you would like someone to talk to (or any of you, for that matter), I will hear you out.

hi oneinebillions
you are not alone ....most of subscribers on this site do feel lonely and need to share,hence electronic interaction...But in reality more you succumb yourself to feeling of loneliness, more it power it has to destroy you and make you sort of handicap .Computer is good,but still isolates you form reality and you become detached from it in a long run. force yourself to sign up for Gym classes and attend them when there are fewer people there (10-11am),find a hobby you can express your emotions with (or any for that matter).It takes work to connect with reality.Whatever you do do not run away from it,it will catch up with you no matter what.
good luck
you can always find a" shoulder" here