1. Loneliness Can Strike Anyone
Once upon time, loneliness affected only spinsters, the elderly and gawky teenagers, but in today's fast paced, Blackberry toting world lots of folks have busy lives and careers but are still achingly lonely. With families moving around the country and people changing jobs and relationships more frequently, we all cope with loneliness at one time or another. There are several ways to be proactive and deal with lonely feelings before they overwhelm us.
2. Turn Your Attitude Dial to Friendly
Think about what's good in your life. Focus on the few people you do know. Maybe there's an old classmate you can call or a neighbor you can visit. Remember that people like to be with happy, pleasant people, so change your attitude and put a smile on your face. Do things you'd normally do with a friend, like go to a restaurant or concert. Talk to the person sitting next to you, if only to ask the time. The more you socialize, the better chance you have of making friends.
3. Brush Up On Your Social Skills
Getting a social life takes effort. It's like dieting, exercising or getting a job. You have to put effort in it to get it. Pick yourself up by the bootstraps and get out of the house. Go to a movie and force yourself to make small talk with the girl selling popcorn. By approaching someone you'll probably never see again, you'll diminish your embarrassment quotient and feel free to be yourself. This method works well for folks who've been alone a long time and need to learn how to use those social skills all over again.
4. Build a Social Network
If you're socially isolated and don't know how to start making friends, start anywhere. There are plenty of options, from social networking sites like Meetup.com and message boards dedicated your hobbies. Get some Internet friends and eventually you might meet some of them in person. Take classes at the local college or attend lectures. Fight self-defeating prophecies like "I won't meet anyone" or "They won't like me." Get out on the town and you'll increase your chances of making friends and acquaintances. They won't crash through the roof. You need to go to them.
5. Get Some Friend-Making Therapy
If you try get out in the world and meet people, but have no success in making new friends, or if you make friends and still feel lonely, call a therapist and talk out your feelings. Perhaps you're looking for something that doesn't exist or have unrealistic social expectations. You may have deep-rooted depression instead of temporary loneliness. A therapist can help decipher your problem and help you start making friends.
