My observation since joining SO is that the members via their posts at least seem to be pretty well adjusted people. Anxiety & Depression can be hell for some and they have my sympathy and hope they receive treatment.
Thankfully, no. I have occasional bouts of "is this all there is?" but I seem to get over it fairly quickly.
@Lon Tanner I could answer about my personal feelings regarding anxiety and depression, if only I knew their manifestations. Therefore, I am not so troubled. Frank
I've been taking care of my life by myself for over 40 yrs after a marriage/divorce that was not so great...good daughter and grandkids from that experience. But believe me they are not at my door step very often. They have their lives and gram is not #1. I am not Lonely but Alone A lot and more so since the knee mess and using a walker and I've given up driving. So I count on friends to help me and they do. I take a lot of supplements and believe they KEEP MY MIND in a good place...optimistic and not lonely mode. And I don't forget what a GOOD LIFE I've been thru with lots of people, noise, activities, jobs and the total bunch of life that got me to this point. Lon, if you don't take a thyroid support that could be missing in your life to get you to be MORE UP. Also enough Vit D which has done wonders for me a low mood I had back in 2006. Many could benefit from a thyroid tweaking or better dosing etc. The thyroid controls SO MUCH.
I had my Thyroid Gland removed years ago due to Toxic Nodules and therefore take a daily thyroid supplement. In addition I do take D and Alpha Lopoic supplement.
Ah, no thyroid and I've heard this from many on various thyroid support groups I've been a member, they were NOT getting ENUF thyroid support for their missing gland or it was the wrong drug. My guess is that you are taking Levo synthetic and it contains only T4 and your body may NOT be converting to the needed T3. I take desiccated support which contains both T4 and T3. The thyroid issue could be a major factor in your "thinking"...etc. The allopathic MD's only prescribe synthetic stuff...One needs to see integrative MD or naturopath for the "real" thing...I've been around and around with this issue and do NOT do well at all on Levo...and I have my thyroid. A sluggish thyroid can be the difference between day and night. I've been there.
Somehow I thought people with "mates" were not that lonely, but I guess maybe that's not true. No mate here and Never lonely, alone yes, but not lonely feeling. My parents were together 63 yrs and so mismatched, but never the word lonely from them. They did for each other until their final days, as best they could. Thinking back to my rather short marriage, I was probably very lonely and wished he was different. Got my wish, his secretary got him. ;
Other than the 1 - 2 hours I spend on here socializing, I'm very happy just being alone. I have lots of hobbies that don't require other people. I've kept myself busy for the past 3 months planning how a mall could be turned into a perfect condominium project. It was from a post I found on here about dying malls. It has ended up being such a cool community space until I wish someone would actually do it. Ofcourse, if someone who didn't know me saw all the blueprints taped up in my art room.....they may think I'm a bit nuts.
I'm an introvert so it's very rare for me to feel lonely. Plus on those rare occasions when loneliness might surface I usually find that I have just gone to long without having some real time with my loved ones and once I take care of that I am fine once again. Extroverts on the other hand need more interaction with people and with socializing activities. @Lon Tanner... from some of your posts that I have read you were very active when you were younger and healthier...and you were married at least twice...so I'm not surprised at all that you often feel lonely. Not being able to communicate or listen to music that you evidently loved just must increase those feelings. I don't know what the answer for you is but I know our heavenly Father does and I will be praying He sends you what you need so that your loneliness is a thing of the past.
I am very comfortable in my own skin and really seek out alone time. Hard to do when I am at my son's house as his office is in the house.
Lon, whenever you get lonely just jump on here, post something controversial (or not) and get into an argument with some of us. You'll be glad to get back to your solitude after that.
I've found that the more one grapples with an issue, the more likely it has a way of taking control over them. An approach I've employed time and again is to relish in the feeling finding inspiration from within. Moments of gratitude, self forgiveness, and kindness are the keys to getting through those hurdles when feelings of hurt well up deep inside. Open up to those feelings as they are warranted in order to find your own insights into its root. Address it as you would yourself... love it and then let it go.