Are you lonely?

I don’t currently feel lonely, I’m actually quite happy at the moment. Although I have felt that feeling of being alone in a crowd and feeling like no one cares about me. I have felt out of touch with my family, my friends have mainly stuck by my side. Sometimes I do feel alone, in those moments in the night when I can’t sleep, although I think I feel more alone rather than lonely. When I have felt alone I haven’t wanted to find friends, I have wanted to feel part of something and not alone in the world.
Does that make sense? I’m not sure, oh well. That’s my opinion, anyway.

No, I’m not lonely. I’m lucky enough to have a close relationship with my husband and daughters. And I have some good friends. I miss my son who is off doing something, but I don’t know what.

I am estranged from some of my family and that makes me a bit sad, but it’s a sadness tinged with the knowledge that it’s the best thing for me at the moment.

No. I was an only child which I think is what made me like being alone. I have a child and I’m busy with a long work day. I have enough friends that I am busy enough with going out to dinner and stuff like that in my free time. I wish I had more time by myself.

Not lonely, but I’m alone most of the time. I’m quite isolated where I am, but I thoroughly enjoy the quiet and lack of drama this affords me. I think this need for quiet and lack of stimuli is appropriate to my age and sex. I think most old guys without immediate family would go this way if left to their own devices. This sounds really chauvinistic, but I think women are wired differently and become more social as they get more time on their hands. I think they are wired more for social engineering and this engenders a need for social contact.

If there is a downside, it is that I get out of step with the latest, ever-changing meme or “conventional wisdom” and language of my own culture. It’s not a bad price to pay as most of the changes I see are trivial and mostly nonsense, but noticeable. Cumulatively, over a short time, like three or four years, they can add up to almost unrecognizable change. The net keeps me clued in to these changes in culture, opinion and attitude, but it’s more like getting snapshots of a film rather than sitting through the whole movie—and that is just fine with me.

Sometimes. As a rule, not, but I would be lying if I said “never”.

I’m with @Espiritus_Corvus

I am never lonely, I am very content to just be by myself a lot of the time inspite of my naturally gregarious personality I also have a very hermit side. My issues lately are the opposite, being forced to deal with some people that get on my nerves. I enjoy seeing and talking to my daughter and one good friend but otherwise, I go out in public to do my stuff, joke around and chat people up and then am perfectly happy to come back and be alone again.

There is a big difference between enjoying solitude and being lonely.
I like my own company and have little interest in investing in forging new relationships.
We are all whole and complete and while it’s okay to enjoy the company of others to dwell in a state of emotional neediness is not.

Thanks to all thus far.
Perhaps this should be another question but how would you define the differences between being alone (even in a crowd) and being lonely?
Is loneliness more of a disconnect from others? Is being alone a choice while loneliness can occur whether or not you want it too? Does loneliness come from the feeling of wanting to belong to a greater whole?

Most of the time, I am. It feels like a dullness somewhere in my chest. Sometimes it feels safe. Sometimes, when I let it, it hurts.

I choose to isolate myself, which doesn’t help. I don’t expect anyone to like me—so partly it’s a self-protective measure. I also grew up watching one person hurt those around them without being able to admit that’s what they were doing—I don’t want to be that person, but they’ve given me an awful lot of their baggage, so I’m worried I walk like them anyway, dragging the same things behind me.

Yeah, I’d say it’s a disconnect. In moments that I feel connected to someone, the dullness fades—but it’ll return shortly after. “Connectedness” never seems to last, and soon an interaction becomes more like a performance across a gap than anything close or immediate, although I also never really expect the closeness to last, and at this point the closeness is a bit painful and rather exhausting, so I keep myself distanced.

Usually it’s wanting to be part of a greater whole, and feeling horribly separate. Sometimes it’s wanting to feel like myself, especially around other people. Sometimes it’s just wanting a hug or a pat on the arm.

@rojo There’s a saying that goes something like this, maybe not a perfect quote but…

“Lonely is when anyone will do but true loneliness is lacking the presence of someone that can relate to you on level you find fulfilling.”

This is where I operate from, I like people, I like fun conversations, I like witty banter, but if I am lacking that sort of fulfilling interaction I’d prefer to be alone but am not lonely.

I’m the opposite of lonely. Too many people around me. I have to interact all day and it leaves me tired out at night and not much energy to interact with the people I actually want to spend time with. I need more time by myself. I have a commute to work and enjoy that time alone.

I’m married and it has the effect of making me “unlonely” We fight at times but in general get along well. Ultimately it’s much better than going through life alone, even for an introvert. I’m not wired to be a solo introvert. I see my lifelong friends once a year or so but I’m close to folks at work. Just part of being a middle aged working stiff.

I am not.
Oh, how I long for a month of solitude.

One can be alone and be lonely, at times.
Yet again- one could be in a room full of people and be lonely.
Self-contentment is a wonderful thing, but it sometimes takes work.
To be afraid to be alone or lonely must be so frightening that some settle or put up with a great deal of disappointment in their lives all to avoid feeling it in any form.
A wise person told me that in all lives- you are born alone and you die alone. No one can intercede, nor take it away, it is inevitable.

Yea, but I know it’s temporary. I guess I kinda need it, too. So I can learn about myself or some shyt.

@Blackberry Or just think about big bootys. lol

I feel lonely when I don’t have anyone to confide in. Luckily I do not feel lonely at the moment.

I prefer to be alone in crowds. This situation does not make me feel lonely.

@Coloma Then I just get all riled up and become sad there’s no one there to help me lol. I’m working on that, though.