Dont know how to make new friends

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I dont really have any friends at the moment. I used to have a few but I sort of lost contact with them and I dont know how to make new ones. I dont really have any social life and its making me depressed. I just wish I knew how to meet new people. I feel alone and isolated and sometimes have dark thought's about doing myself in.

There is not really any groups or clubs where I live so I have nowhere to go. I have tried to go to things in the past but have always chickened out. I feel more comfortable talking online for some reason rather than face to face. I know having friend's would make me feel better I just don't know where to begin or how to go about it.

Any idea's would be appreciated thank you.

Finding out how to make friends is like riding a bicycle. Well... I suppose it's a bit more complex... Let's try that again.

Finding out how to make friends is like learning to fly a jet, it's really difficult but once you finally figure it out you won't forget. I'm in the process of writing something regarding the dynamics of social skills, and I'll send you a PM with a link when I'm done, but here's my thoughts on the matter for now.

First off, try and get yourself ready and presentable. Trying on some new clothes, a new hairstyle, etc. makes me feel more enthusiastic about beginning the seemingly impossible endeavor of exploring social relationships.

After you feel ready to go out, you have to find somewhere to go. I've personally found that volunteering is my favorite activity when meeting new people. It can put you in a good mood when you help out, you find nice and passionate people, and you start out with one thing in common (volunteering!) VolunteerMatch is a great website for finding activities you might be interested in around your area.

Finding things in common is one of the easiest ways to make friends, so try and pick out people that have as many common interests with you as possible. That's the fundamental principles of making friends.

Good luck and PM me if you've got any questions.

~Wave

I have the exact same problem, I live in the middle of nowhere in rural Georgia (I'm from Atlanta and have a Masters degree in Chemistry, I stick out like a sore thumb) and have absolutely no idea how to meet people who might be ASD-friendly. My friendships have always evolved from school and I am no longer in school. I have not made a new friend in 2 years, so I feel you there.

As Wave suggested, I've come to the conclusion that doing something I enjoy may land me with people with similar interests, plus you're then involved in an activity and don't have to worry so much about eye contact & etc. Plus going on a rant about a topic someone else is interested in is a better opportunity to keep their interest and potentially practice listening skills.

Meetup is a great way to find local activities you like to do, and do them with other people who also don't know anyone and might be a little awkward at starting relationships. I'm about to start a local Meetup specifically for Aspies... I hope I find some!! !

The Meetup.com is a great idea (like BlazeJester stated in the previous post). I'm NT and trying to make new friends and had looked at Meetup, but I'm feeling uncomfortable meeting new people this way without someone going with me. I don't like mixing friendship with my job, so that is out. I was thinking of taking a non-credit class at the local junior college. Also our Parks and Recreation has some small one day classes that I have tried, but those are probably too short to make a friend. I had went to a knitting group with a friend of mine that I found on the Meetup website, but the woman that started the group was a little too nosy in my business and rubbed me the wrong way with some of the things she said to me. I left the group when school started and was going to go back last night, but now some other problem came up and I'm finding the group to have too much drama (sometimes women can be that way). Maybe I'll try again with the group, but I'll be going back to school soon so I won't have time for friends.