Loneliness

[Oshinxx1]

Hi there,

I struggle with loneliness along side or because of my major depressive disorder. I am talking about emotional lonliness, not being able to connect with people and be open. I feel that this stunts any progress because keeping up appearances and trying to please everyone by not ‘complaining’ leads to resentment. I use music to feel a connection but I miss being connected to another human being. Those who I was closest to are now dead. 
Can anyone relate to this?

[TrueSeeker]

Hello

I can understand how hard it can be to find someone that we can share all out thoughts and emotions with. As much as people from healthy background are great and safe to be around, they can struggle to understand us.

Have you tried to find someone or a social group of people that are dealing with similar problems to yours? My partner comes from a similar toxic background as me and it's much easier to talk about everything and understand each other.

I know it can be hard, sometimes all we can do is just to keep trying and eventually we get lucky. Please take care and let us know how you're going

[Eagle Ray]

Hi Oshinxx1 and wave to TrueSeeker,

I can relate to your post. I also experience emotional loneliness. For me it's my complex trauma history that tends to make me frightened of people. I have a few connections/friends but mostly in the city away from me here in a country town where I live alone and feel very isolated.

I wonder if just going out for a walk and saying hello to some people as you pass by may help a little? Sometimes just even something very simple like that can start to open you up a little. I have found that sometimes I can connect with someone who owns a dog, as I love dogs and will ask if I can pat their dog some of the time. I did make a new friend in my town this way who has turned out to be a very stable, good person to know and perhaps my only real friend here.

I recently reconnected with a friend near the city who has complex ptsd like me, and it was so beneficial as she could understand my experience and me hers. I think when you have major depressive disorder it's so difficult as a lot of other people don't really understand from the inside what you experience. As TrueSeeker suggests, it may help if you were able to get to know someone with similar challenges. Just being understood can be a really good feeling that lifts you quite a bit.

We are here anyway if you want someone to chat to and to listen to how you feel. Take good care,

ER