It can be hard and it varies by your location. People on here chat with each other to help stem the loneliness but with the pandemic it is hard to get out and do things because you tend to be at risk.

Where i used to live when i was lonely all i needed to do was go sit on a bench in town. Within a few minutes people would come and sit just to chat with someone. Of course that was a small town community.

Where i live now it is different. Most people just go around with pissed off looks on their faces and don't like to talk. It is hard here to find new friends but i'm stuck here in a city i hate just so i can work. I do miss the small town i moved from. Everyone down there knew everyone else and even those that didn't know you personally knew someone in your family and you were instant friends.

You can message me LostALot i may not be able to respond very quickly but it would be someone to chat with.

I go for long walks outside and it makes me feel good....gives me a sense of purpose in bettering myself, plus I talk to myself alot and in getting to know who I am, I find myself beginning to like myself more.

I saw a post on another websight which read, "If you love the person you are with, then you are never alone." I can attest to that. I love myself yet I love being alone.

God Bless

My work provides a source of connection with others, AND I happen to enjoy living alone. But I do get lonely. As bobinmaine mentioned,,exercise helps me too. Fresh air lifts my spirit as do the endorphins. But, it also provides a focus on something positive. I think if you wanted to, you could meet someone for a walk? Finding a place to volunteer your time might help too. There are lots of places that could use extra hands.

Just Like with dating, you have to put yourself out there. Go for coffee and smile and say hi to people. Or maybe take yourself out to a bar. I used to do that. Somehow, I met a group of girls to hang out with. I met my best friend when she became my neighbor. I've met friends through work and through boyfriend's. I used to babysit for a married couple who were bartenders at the restaurant I worked at. I ended up being invited to parties that way. I used to belong to an anxiety disorder group and met nice people and became friends with a guest speaker and ended up taking a course that he was giving and made more friends. This is all over many years and for the most part,Facebook keeps us in touch now. In fact, a few months ago I got a friend request from a guy I did not know, but we had friends in common so I accepted his friend request. He's super nice. Loves my cat. We've been out to breakfast. Then there is a website called Meetup.com. You can probably find a group that interests you in your area. Well I hope you meet some special people.

Join a book club. If you have the next door app, make a post asking if there are neighborhood book clubs. Also check your local library. Number 1, you read a book and exercise your mind. Number 2, we are around other people. Number 3, we talk about the book and other subjects with people who want to be around other people. There may be card groups or other hobby groups. Go to several groups and see what you think. Don't share personal stuff at first. Oh, and if you are in the USA, check with your local N.A.M.I. for local mental health support groups. Great way to meet like minded others.

Also, consider church groups if you are spiritually minded. Or exercises classes through a gym. The first thing is to start being out in public with other people in a group setting. You will do this for a while and then make friends. You might feel uncomfortable and like a stranger at first, but this is normal. Allow yourself 4-6 meetings in whatever group you choose to decide is this good or not good. If not good, move on. Make a list of potential group settings you'd like. I encourage book clubs because it can be very fun and people tend to be intelligent in them.

I don't have a good solution to the making friends problem. I do have problems making friends. I have it all my life because I don't have good social skills. I'm 53 and figure this is way it is for me. I live with my son and his grandma so I'm not always alone. They aren't the comforting type of people so I don't have much support.

Some people have to be their own friend. I know that sounds sad but it what's happened to society.

Jenn, I think you are correct that some of us are more introverted or find it hard to make new friends. I am at that crossroads right now. I have been working on making new friends for 3-4 years. I am finally making some new friends. I also joined a support group through my church. I moved and found suddenly I only had husband as a friend. This kind of scared me so I am trying to find a new life and interests. Then covid hit and everything so much more difficult. I do think we have to be our own best friend but I also want to have connections with other decent, good people.

My neighborhood just put on a neighborhood/community garage sale. So I took $25.00 cash, got in my car, drove around the neighborhood and stopped at 6-7 yard sales. I ended up meeting and talking to several very nice people. And found some 2-3 of my neighbor who share my interests (walking, cycling, fitness) and connected with two of them on NextDoor.

That is how one meets people and makes friends.