You accept that you are in a difficult situation with no great answers.
You focus on being good company for yourself and treating yourself like someone of value. Be kind and understanding to yourself and try to minimize negative self talk.
You open yourself to creating new connections with others, but without preconceived ideas of success or failure.
Thankyou. Simple and practical answer
Edit
intrusive thought
Why is it not okay for the world if I want to be a part of it as well?? Why am I not allowed to … also be?? I’m acceptable as in Ya know, you're awesome, but please just stay "over there", don't sit or come too close to me yeah, okay? Thankyou 😬
Or am I just fooling myself with this???
Have you also tried asking in the depression community? !depression@sopuli.xyz
It’s easiest to connect with people who share passions. If you like board games, find a group (facebook, meetup, etc) that has a board games night and go along. Most board game players I know are introverted, and it seems you likely are too, so you’ll be on the same ground.
Get out and do things, ride your bike if you have one. At the traffic lights you can exchange a few words with other cyclists who will be happy to tell you where they are going, accept compliments on their bike, etc. Same for mountain biking.
Go to single-day community events. I went to one recently for jade carving. By the end of it you are all chatting and comparing your work, exchanging tips. It’s fun.
TL;DR Get passionate about something. Chase it and join like-minded communities.
Acceptance. A lonely person can’t solve their loneliness by themselves. You can’t logic your way directly out of being lonely.
Specifically to the isolation, lately I’ve been volunteering twice a week. Not a “cure”, but it’s been an improvement for sure.
Depression is another beast entirely, though. I like to think I’m “out” of it now, but it took me a long time to get here.
One thing my therapist suggested was to find your values and try to work toward those. So for me, I’ve found that I care a lot about Education and Community, so I started volunteering teaching English to refugees.
I’m generally nihilistic, but when I’m volunteering it makes me feel better to know I’m making their lives better. Gives me a sense of purpose where it was always lacking before.
I hope you’re able to find something that works for you. Just remember that things can and will get better, even though it can be nearly impossible to believe that when you’re “in it” so to speak. Just keep going, and only do as much as you’re able.
Keep busy, have animals and focus on making 1 thing better at a time. Start your goals small so that you can actually achieve them.
