What to Do When You’re Feeling Lonely

“Recently, I went through perhaps the loneliest period of my life. I was in Croatia, visiting my grandmother, when a close relationship of mine suddenly ended. I was far away from my closest friends, and the profound isolation I felt drowned out any comforts or distractions I attempted. After about a week of withdrawing into my loneliness, I tried going on a run and felt my first modicum of relief — it was the only thing that brought me back to my body. I kept running, and after another week, I spent a weekend at a hostel, where I was forced to interact with new people. That Saturday night at a local karaoke bar, as I sang along to ex-Yugo classics and Blink-182 with the rest of the room, I felt actual joy. Once I felt a little more connected to the new people around me, I was better able to connect with friends back home to make plans once I had returned. I’m still not in the happiest or most social season of my life, but I have discovered more ways of dealing with these feelings.” Source: What to Do When You’re Feeling Lonely