I can relate to everything you said. I just joined this site tonight and don't really know how to use it. But I would be glad to talk to you.

I just joined tonight too. If I am not at work then I spend 98% of my time alone. I have a dog and he is awesome. Just wish he could talk back to me. He is a great companion but the really sad thing is, all my family lives within a few miles of me.

What is your story? Why did you join?

Even though I don't know you, I still care about you. The kind of friends you have are the kind you don't need. I enjoy talking to people and hoping that I can put a smile on their face.

I am sorry to hear this. I have been feeling lonely recently. It really is a terrible feeling to have. Loneliness has no mercy at times. I need for people/friends to talk to as well.
We care about you.

God bless,
Zuhair

my wife passed away 3 years ago and I have been very lonely

Loneliness is a horrible feeling that strips you of your dignity. It leaves you feeling like a pathetic loser. Someone who is incapable of maintaining a relationship with another human being, Yes, INVISIBLE. I am here for anyone at anytime. I am willing to listen with an open heart and mind. Best wishes to everyone on this day and we will unite together and throw loneliness to the wind,

Not good. But I feel you. I suggest you go out and do some kind of volunteering. Anything, even if you won't like it the most. That is simple, no one has high expectations, and anything you do is good. And most important you will be around people, you must not isolate yourself, ever! It's better to be with people you don't like 100% than to be alone. Gotta start somewhere. But you have to move. Get your social skills, bot by bit, don't let fear/habits/laziness stop you! Don't be bitter, or sad, force yourself to be happy no matter what! Go and do some good, baby steps first, but do some steps!!

Lately, that seems to be my situation. I won't hear from anyone unless I reach out to them and my best friend has suddenly stopped keeping in touch for the last 2 weeks, so I feel like i have no one to hangout with. Its really not fair. Your friends are definitely not treating you right if they don't care enough to even send you a "hi". Friends are supposed to be there for each other and of course, not forget each other, even if they are extremely busy. One suggestion I have would be to keep reaching out to them, to get into their minds so they think about you more often. Offer to take or go with them somewhere, have a good time and show them you are a real friend to them and they should reciprocate that loyalty back to you. Trying won't kill anybody and at least you could say you tried.

Sounds like you need a house mate our partner as the simplest solution

Huge numbers of people struggle with loneliness especially the old who can't get about and their partner or friends have passed

Perhaps join an organisation to help ease another lonely person's suffering will help cheer you up

I feel the same way, it often depresses me to think how long it would take for people to notice if I was gone or if they would care. I don't understand why I'm invisible tho, because I have always thought of myself as a very outgoing person. At work I never get noticed, I just feel stuck. But this is the best job I've ever had and I feel like I'm completely competent at my job duties and I like it here. But I don't really fit in. I try to join conversations and I either get bullied or completely ignored like I'm not even talking. It's hard to feel like this in my adult life. Idk if you had probs in school and we're a lonely kid. I did and never made friends, but that changed when I got older and started working. Maybe you just need to get out more or think about a career change.

Ergh ... Office politics.

The last time I had a job I refused to reach out

I sat at my desk in silence for months eating lunch on my own.

Yet surprisingly they hired me, though they called me weird

Then my top boss was a nasty arsehole. Losing loads of weight and Being attractive swung him into flattery and gift giving

Then being good at my job meant no problems in work

Then I showed concern for someone obviously wanting someone to share with

Just listened to them, then their friends started joining us for lunch

Then things were pretty good, had a few people start to show interest in me then

Keep your eye out for someone whose upset!!! That's your foot in the door!!!

Don't know really, I think people are generally convinced that your the enemy and want you gone and no where near ruining their close friendships that they have. So you have to find someone new who is also excluded and form your own click

I feel just like your original post. I am in my late 40s and invisible for so many reasons. I reach out to ppl, I make an effort to be a good friend, remember their bdays, make a fuss occasionally, and it is just a one-way street. I get so tired of it. I know i am a good friend so I don't get it. I'm not a ball of laughs or wild n crazy but I am a good listener, I try to focus on the bright side but am not afraid to talk about the truth of the matter and I know when to give ppl their space. Which, apparently they want a lot of from me, she said sarcastically. Like, I'll text them once in a while, no response. Yet, when I hang out with them, they are checking their phone constantly, every time, so I know they see the texts. Being a hermit sounds really good sometimes!