Hello Baldr. Welcome to DS. I'm trying to figure the irony of an on-line support group helping you spend less time on-line, but every time I think I've found the irony, it still ends up making sense when I think on it a little more. Takes a junkie to help a junkie?

Love the term, "Foxhole Friends." Welcome to our foxhole. Maybe together we can find our ways to break our real-time isolation.

good point! I have come to the conclusion that communication technology is an adaptation for introverts like glasses are for the sight-challenged. But the real time, real space thing can't be e-supplied. The "takes a junkie to help a junkie" is the exact philosophy AA uses, so i think you are on to something.

Alanon and Work-a-holics Anonymous are but two of many programs which use the same 12 step format. There is even a book respected by Christians in my own healing circles called, "12 Steps for Recovering Pharisees." 'Tis a high fiber chew for anybody who thinks themselves The Owner of All Truth. I know my strictly personal control freakitis gives me more than one righteous spot.

Anyhoo. . . Whichever way it grows, let the growth begin.

Join divorced woman's groups, go to meetup activities, volunteer.
It will get you around people at least.

It's easier to make friends at work or church, you have things in common.
Friends will come to you, you just need to be open when they do.
Good luck in your new town

Fresh start includes your mind. Give yourself a specific time to "think about this", then put it aside.

Writing it out is important to help you find the patterns of thinking.

Take time to do "new" things. The first step is the hardest!

Best wishes.

That must be very lonely. I applaud you for talking about it here! We are moving to a new town in a couple years and making new friends is one of my biggest goals. Some ideas would be looking through the meetup.com groups for anything that interests you. Where we are moving there is an extremely active hikers group, for example, with many planned hikes a week. What a great place to meet people and, even if you meet nobody, you get out of the house. I like the outdoors so I plan to bike, golf, walk/hike, go to the gym. I might search out a bookclub also. Lastly, I have enjoyed being in a service club so you might look for something like Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis which all are very welcoming to new members and an easy place to make friends if you just sign up on the sign up lists! Good luck to you!

Hi there! No matter what don't be hard on yourself!! Give yourself grace and put it out into the universe that you want to meet new people. I went through a period of isolation and started volunteering. It helped immensely by helping me meet people and took the focus off of myself and my problems. Either way take your time getting adjusted and don't forget to always be kind to yourself first!!

Hi, I am in a new town too and am struggling to make friends. I feel pretty isolated. I have tried to engage in some activities (even through my social anxiety) but so far I can't seem to connect with anyone. I started taking a class to meet people and then I ended up being the only student lol. Ahh, this is a challenge for sure! Feel free to message me if you like. We can at least have some online friends?

I meet 2 of my dearest friends here on daily strength. I would not trade them or this site for the world. It's the one place you can be as open and honest as it gets without cruelty. Now that's not to say people want call you out and let you know when it's you being the problem but it is done in a manner that flips the switch to the on position. And you see things from a different view. In the 3 almost 4 years I have been on here I can honestly say I have only seen one truly ugly hate filled remarks to anyone and that I guess was handled by the powers that be. It's amazing how much encouragement you can get from what starts out as online strangers that can help you come out of your shell in your everyday life. And you will get through any issues just keep talking there's always someone here to respond. And keep reading that's when you start to see you arent the only one feeling that way. Love my DS fam. I probably would not be here today if not for this sight