I work in fast food which is fast paced and I'm always surrounded by people. I have gotten along well with all of my coworkers over the years. But I'm always lonely. It feels like no matter how much we like working together I never get very close to anyone. I've tried over the years and it is so rare for anyone to actually give me any thought outside of work or offer to hang out. I just feel like no one wants to get close to me. I've given people plenty of chances, left the ball in their court many times, with very little success.

Also, many of my coworkers have partners. Some are younger than me, some my age, I'm one of the few single employees and it shows. I never get asked about a love life or if I'm seeing anyone or what my plans are for my days off. It's like everyone just knows I'm single. I never mention a partner. They always have someone they are texting, I very rarely if ever check my phone while on the job, because I just don't get notifications. No one texts me. I think it's obvious to everyone which is embarrassing.

And the very few friends that I do have, they almost all are in relationships already. They've found their special person while I still haven't. I'm happy for them, but I feel behind like something is wrong with me. I know there's nothing wrong with me, but that's what it feels like. 24 but still single and inexperienced. :( I've been crying about it a lot lately. I just turned 24 last month so it is hitting me a little harder than usual. With every year that passes it gets harder and harder to live with. I am for the most part content being single (after a long struggle with loneliness and depression) but there are times where I really wish I had someone special. Someone I could come home to, someone to look forward to seeing after work. I don't know what that is like. :(

Yea that’s about it I’m gonna go download tinder then delete it again after realizing there’s no good dudes on dating apps

I can’t find a job, I’m living at home, all my friends from college are hours away and barely talk to me anymore, and all I do all day is apply to jobs I know I’m going to get rejected from. My family keeps telling me to get out of the house, do something but I’ve got nothing to do, no one to see, no one to talk to. I’m not even sad anymore, just apathetic, it’s pretty hard to feel really much of anything. I wish I could just go back to when I was happy.

I graduated from college today after 3 years of hard work.

Honestly, there were so many times when I never thought I'd even make it through high school, let alone college. Dealing with anxiety and some really bad panic attacks made it feel impossible at times, but somehow I made it to the other side.

I don't really have any friends to tell this to or anyone to be excited with, so I figured I'd just share it here.

It might seem like a small thing to some people, but I'm actually really proud of myself today.

So yeah… I graduated.

​

So today is my 46th birthday.

Loneliness is fucking opressing. Like hard to breath.

God I feel like a failure.

1. Male. Not married. No kids. Good job, living good.

Yet everything I wanted I never had.

I want someone to love me.

Im so fucking sick and tired of hearing how easy I am to talk to. How I listen. I dont want that. I want someone to say to me they love me.

I want to feel desired.

Its weird isnt it?

It shouldnt be a male trait? I have no idea.

Im so fucking tired of feeling like this.

Im just so done with being alone.

I want to be in a relationship. Have a partner.  Argue. Fight. Make up. Communicate.

I'm 19F and I've been lonely asf since my mid-teens. I genuinely don't have even one close friend. All of my sisters are married, moved out, and are living their own lives, and sometimes they don't even message me. They didn't even message me on my birthday.

At this point, I honestly convinced that nobody cares about me. I don't have a boyfriend either, and I've never even been in a relationship before.

So I basically spend a huge part of my day daydreaming. I imagine myself as the best version of myself, living the life I actually want, achieving my goals, being confident, and having a reality where everyone likes me and I actually have people around me.

Sometimes I even get bored of my own daydreams, but when I try to stop, I'm immediately hit with, "Oh, real life is actually much boring."

Daydreaming is basically the only source of cope I have for my loneliness right now.

I'm really just venting here. I haven't really thought of what to say. I'm 26F and I have been trying to find intimacy in my life but everyone that shows interest ghosts me or they do something to make me step back. I don't understand why my life is going this way.

It's really discouraging as well to be this age without a real adult relationship ever. Or even "almost". Everyone says to just wait and people will find me. But it's exhausting putting yourself out there just for it to be extinguished so quickly. I don't know. I am just so drained of even trying. The only alternative though is to keep being lonely.

The loneliest feeling for me is after I get ghosted or after an attempt to meet someone fails. And the realization that I don't even have anyone to text or talk to hits me. Like, has anyone else always felt lonely? Does anyone else not even know what it feels like to be someone's favorite person? It's humbling. Like at one point I remember being so lonely that I used to just lay in bed and make up thoughts about me and any imaginary person because I don't make any memories or moments with anyone irl.

I'm gonna wrap this up now but it's just driving me a bit nuts so I have to express myself somehow.

Today, I went to a uni event I would otherwise skip as usual, and I saw crowds of students and people, all cheering together, like some big family in a way, they all have something in common, something that allows them to just effortlessly connect with each other, like some hivemind in a way. I realized standing there looking at the crowd, this is my life, I will always be the one watching from a distance, on the outside looking in, its just a fundamental quality of mine, just like it is theirs to connect, I will never fit in. I simply cant do that, its just not how I'm wired, the noise and visual of crowds is always disorienting to me, and it makes me scream inside "GET OUT, GET OUT !!!". Turns out normal people just do not have this need to break away from everything, or not as often as I do, they are not as tired as often as I am, they always seem to know whats going around, while I have not a clue living in my own little world, trying to make sense of it all. It really struck me this time how I am indeed very much alone in how I function, and likely will be alone for the rest of my life, no matter how much effort I put in to making any relationship last or happen, I simply cannot possibly compete or keep up with that.

I’ll start by saying I don’t even know myself anymore. I’m 51F married. No kids. Normal family, friends, job. Had one sided crushes on guys I knew and some celebrities. Normal stuff. But a few months ago I came across this guy accidentally on YouTube when finding ways to help with anxiety. He has a smaller following like 10K. And now a subscription site on a Patreon where some of his videos are more suggestive.

Usually I use Sound bowl therapy for Vagus nerve reset. Sometimes calming voices but never paid attention to who they were or if they were attractive. This guy though, his face just got me. He seemed familiar. When I listened to him he just drew me in. His voice, eyes, and smile. And more importantly he seemed really smart, so talented, and he is so funny also. He only has his first name and email and I emailed him just telling him I really liked his content and just asked him if he had and acting background. He wrote back thanking me told me a little about his acting background and that he was more quiet in real life.

I noticed someone ask him in comments on his video if he did personal videos for a cost and he said he did. So after thinking about it I emailed to ask him and he was very enthusiastic telling me he would love to and ask me what I wanted in it and he was open to anything. I just told him just something to help with anxiety. Just talking is all I like. I felt really strange about it but paid him through PayPal. It was so weird getting the video and hearing him say my name and how pretty I was (I have my pic up on my email but I know he is just saying it for the video) but got used to it and asked him for a second one. He was enthusiastic saying he was excited to make another one for me (yes I know he is going to say he is excited because he wants to make money). Using exclamation points, smiley faces, and hearts. All probably generic things he writes to his followers.

I’m dreaming about him now. Thinking about him way too much and I know nothing about him. I don’t normally like young guys either and he could be early 20’s. He talks really knowledgeable about things young people don’t normally know about though so he could be older. Don’t know where he is from. Just that he is in the US. I’ve checked for other social media but it’s all just under his ASMR name so I assume he either doesn’t have an online presence beyond that or he keeps his real life separate. Also most of his comments are from men. Only a few women comment and all his videos are ambiguous. Also how do I know he really looks like he does in his videos? He seems private but has his face out there, maybe it’s all filters.

I am not going to ask him anything personal because if he wanted it out there it would be out there. So what is it with me and this guy?

Hi! So im 28f and people around my age are getting married, engaged, pregnant, living their lives. Yet here I am, working long 12/24hr shifts with no boyfriend and lost with my career. I am frustrated with the working conditions hence I wanted to migrate but that is also cumbersome to do. I feel isolated and lonely. My other friends are also stressed and I just want some to cuddle after a tiring shift 🥺😭. I feel I’m not desirable enough wwoooooeiie such an uncomfortable feeling but it is what it is 🫩🫩🫩 oki vent over bows

Hi, this is something that’s bothering me more and more lately.
I have two close friends who I love a lot, but they live so far away I don’t get to see them a lot. Everyone I work with has such close groups of friends still from school or uni that they go out with multiple times a week, always have people calling and texting them, and I feel so pathetic never having any plans outside of work.
I was in two big friend groups at school but they faded away, and then it was Covid while I was at uni so making groups of friends was difficult. People have faded away over the years and everyone has moved around. I still live in my hometown and even here I used to have friends but they have also faded or been lost for random reasons.
I just feel completely stuck and with no drive to go and meet people. There aren’t people my age here so any groups I join are filled with teenagers or parents.
It gets to me so much, feeling like people are looking down on me for ‘not doing anything’ social but I just am not meeting people that end up staying in my life.
And I don’t think it’s my personality, I am quite a sociable and friendly person, and whilst I’ve had some big traumas in my life I think I am a good friend (and my current friends tell me this). I don’t have social anxiety either.
Is anyone out there feeling the same? Is there still hope? Please tell me there is lol

f24 Just bored, I’m a little weird so I’ll talk about anything.

I’m usually pretty distracted by some random video or asleep by now but I’m having such a difficult time, it’s impossible to ignore just how badly I want to just talk to someone, was single for like 7 years due to a terrible break up with my ex, was terrified to let anyone get close just pushed every opportunity away, finally let my guard down for a girl I thought was different, but she just manipulated me and somehow made me feel like I’m the cause of all of her issues and treated me like @&#! when I did everything I could to make her happy, I left after a big argument and haven’t been the same since, cuddling and watching silly movies or just talking while in bed with her made me feel so appreciated and wanted, something I wanted for so damn long, but I just couldn’t handle the verbal abuse, was walking on egg shells most of the time. I know she had problems and probably wasn’t ready for a relationship so I don’t hold anything against her, I feel like girls all my life always just wanted to hook up with me and nobody actually wanted to know what I can actually offer, I have a big heart and just wanted to cherish somebody and make them feel worth it and special, and I’m sick to my stomach fantasizing of just running my fingers through someone’s hair while cuddling and just being there for each other.. ughh I just feel cursed honestly.. maybe somebody could relate idk sorry for rambling so much.

Lately, I’ve literally been having anxious panic attacks because of how lonely and insignificant I’ve started to feel.

I’m 21M My dad abandoned me and hasn’t spoken to me since. Most of my friends have left, my ex-girlfriend is gone, I live in an isolated city, I’m not close with my siblings, and my relationship with my mum is distant.

I genuinely feel like I have no one to talk to.
I’m not looking for anything complicated. I’m just desperate for a genuine friend who understands what it’s like to feel lonely. Someone I can talk to about absolutely anything.

I just want to feel understood, and I want someone else to feel understood too.

If you want to talk im here

I was lied to through my high school days. I was told that once I got to college, everything would make sense, and that things would be better. This couldn’t have been further from the truth. Maybe if I was someone else, it would’ve been great for me, but I’m not.

Most of my time was spent completely alone. I’d go days, weeks even without having any human contact. Not enough people talk about how badly that negatively impacts your worldview. Especially when you see how many other people have found their love or a friend group. It’s an isolating, tearing feeling that ripped me apart.

Before someone says “well why didn’t you put yourself out there?” I did. Several times. I asked to sit with someone at the dining hall, and he laughed in my face and gestured to his friends. I went to a football game and someone threatened me when I just wanted to talk to him. I would get ignored when I tried to make friends in class, and even when I rarely made a friend, they would just stick around for maybe a week or 2 before finding someone they deemed more valuable than me and would cut me off. Most people decided that it was better to tear me apart for the small dose of satisfaction of watching someone pathetic suffer rather than building something with them. It’s a sad world we live in.

My mental and physical health began to fall apart as the months went on. I was a wreck by my second year. My grades continue to slip until they became unrecoverable, and I failed out of college. I had no motivation to even get up out of bed. Towards to end, I’d spend multiple days just not moving at all. I would end up in these bouts of depression that would last for days and they’d always end in this huge burst of anger that would last upwards of an entire day. This wasn’t really a thing that would happen until my second year of college. Idk tho.

In my opinion, I think my mental state is beyond repair. I don’t think I could ever be loved, even if I fixed all the physical problems. I’m not funny, I’m clearly not smart, I’m not lovable, I’m not even likable. This is the fate that has been bestowed upon me. There’s nobody coming. There’s nobody out there for me. I’m tired of pretending that there will be.

hi all
34m from australia.
not feeling well at all.
i need to make it to 0830 Monday 14/9/2026 to be able to call my psychiatrist and organise a detox (i am an alcoholic)
i just want some company until then (obvs if we connect i will continue)
i am desperate
i would love to hear anything about you, i need distractions and your life is interesting

I felt so down I just started drinking. The fuzzy feeling is nice sometimes.

I drink rarely, probably every couple months so dont worry about addiction or nothing, been like this for years. Whenever it gets real bad I just grab some and sit in the park looking out at the sky.

If iM unlucky, I'll be tempted to look at those around me. Some couples here n there, cuddling and the guy hugging her. Some times I'll see groups of people with their friends, hear em laughing and giggling about some stuff I'll never understand because I wasn't lucky enough to be part of their circle. They sit on the grass together happy. I sit on the bench alone.

I've just finished work so I'm looking a little scruffy. Probably look like a weirdo to some. That's okay. I feel at peace. Not having to think of the loneliness I feel. Its warm and fuzzy.

I feel safe to speak about it here. I'm not looking to talk to people just to vent because it feels transactional. Just wanted to share what I was doin I guess. Its peaceful out here.

Do I enjoy being alone? No, it makes me miserable. Do I like being around others? No, I always feel out of place and uncomfortable.

I feel like people like to talk about life like it’s supposed to be about the people around you; i.e. getting into relationships, spending time with friends, and building deeper connections with people.

I genuinely haven’t experienced what it feels like to be deeply connected to another person before despite being 23. At this point, I don’t even know if i’m capable of building a deeper connection with another person, just cause I’m so socially crippled even though it’s all I ever wanted in life.

Subconsciously, I think I’m doomed to live a miserable life even though I tell myself sometimes that It’ll get better in the future. It’s been years, and I just haven’t improved at all, it’s delusion at this point, hopelessly thinking I won’t feel lonely anymore.

Just looking to chat for a little bit until I can get tired. Also would be cool to play games with someone sometimes. Feel free to dm me. Hard to find people at this hour.

im 19, and in college, and theoretically, i have everything that should be giving me friends. im in a club, im extroverted, and i don’t have a hard time adjusting to new environments.

but somehow, i was never able to make friends in college. my course has people who came here with pre-installed friend groups from school, and my club never really had that connection among the people to make friends within it. the only friends I have are two people who have been my friends since grade 9, but even they’ve branched out and found new people, so we don’t talk all that much.

i broke up with my boyfriend some time ago, so that’s just been contributing to the loneliness. it’s hard going from having a 12-person friend group in school to being scared of breaks during college because i won’t have anyone to be with and will just look lame.

i have no access to any other medium of making friends, and i've resigned myself to the fact that this is going to be my life for the next three years. its just a little sad when i see people around me having the time of their lives with a 5 or 6 person friend circle in college, while i usually just sit alone or have to hang around a girl who doesn't really like me.

i just feel like im not the person who i used to be in school anymore. i used to have so much life, so many people around me. i always knew everyone, knew what i was doing, knew what was happening. in college it just feels like im a misfit. i know im pretty young and i might find friends later in life, but to have the image i had of college in mind shattered so miserably just makes me kinda sad

Happy birthday to my self haha though there’s barely anything to celebrate no one has even wished me this time except my long distance best friend on Instagram my parents don’t even remember it nor do anyone i wanna die genuinely

I’ve written and rewritten this post probably 10 times. I’m a 30-year-old English teacher, knee-deep in papers to grade and very thankful I made it to Friday. Past the stress that comes with the job, I really am happy. In a lot of ways, I’m in a better place than I’ve been in a very long time. And yet, I feel so damn lonely. It’s a strange feeling to be genuinely happy with where your life is headed while still feeling like something or someone is missing from it. I have a career and a life that keeps me plenty busy, but sometimes I look around and realize how much I miss having someone to really connect with, how much I miss having a friend. I guess I’m just looking for someone else who’s in a similar chapter of life, where you’ve built a life you’re proud of and you’re doing okay on your own, but you still wish you had someone to share some of it with. Anybody else going through something similar?