How do you handle loneliness?

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The method that really helped me deal with loneliness was to move in with a girlfriend who had a bit of things in common with me. Loneliness was a major reason I hated being single & wanted a relationship. Other things I've done were try to socialize online, work a lot when I was employed & management allowed me to work extra, & trying to get out the house more when I wasn't employed. Those things were more band-aid fixes though & I was still very depressed.

Good question, especially this time of the year I think (at least for some of us).

I do a lot of volunteer work for autistic led organizations that organize meetings for autistic peers. That way I made my circle grow. But most people I only see at those meetings. This period all those meetings stop due to the holidays, so I miss other people around me.

And the contact remains on the surface, a deeper click is almost always missing, it is rare. This year I did meet someone with whom I experience that click, but I haven't seen her for some time. And not yet dared to take the step to ask if she wants to keep in touch outside of the meetings where I see her. That gives an extra push to my loneliness these weeks I notice.

We can all be alone together ;p

Loneliness is difficult for me because the people I am attached to are very specific and the reason that I was close to them is also very specific and no one else can replace them. So when they are gone, it does not matter how many other people are in my life, I am always grieving them.

If I knew, I wouldn't be here. I'd be staying on my island and not letting people in.

I've only felt a bit lonely for a little while when I moved out but got used to it quickly. I used to take the train to go all over the city. Read in public library. Go to computer labs. Browse in stores so I can see other people.

I also started accepting any invitation from any friend (even went to an evangelical conversion event) to be with people. It was actually a great year. I did well in school, made new friends, read about 200 books and learned many life skills. Then I accepted a date from a guy in my computer class, and I haven't been lonely much since.

I imagine that if I'm ever lonely again I'll just get active again and go out more, join some hobby groups and do more volunteering. I've always wanted to join a choir and I know I'll pass the audition.

I distract myself with my hobbies and special interests.