How do I stop feeling so lonely?

I have good friends and great relationships with colleagues at work. I hang out with my friends at least once or twice a week either on or offline. My work allows me to meet many people and stay very social. But at the end of all this I feel so, so lonely.

I do not have a good relationship with my family due to past events and barely speak with most of them besides my brother. I don’t have a girlfriend but feel a need for some kind of affection other than friendly jokes and conversations. I just want to be able to hug somebody. I don’t want sex or anything, I just want to feel like someone cares for me like I care for them. I feel so neglected. The other day I had a colleague of mine take my blood (I work in healthcare) and even the small amount of contact just touching and moving my arm made me feel almost relaxed. Is that how low my standards for physical contact have become? That being stabbed with a needle is comforting… how do I overcome this.

Submitted October 29, 2021 at 12:11AM

I have good friends and great relationships with colleagues at work. I hang out with my friends at least once or twice a week either on or offline. My work allows me to meet many people and stay very social. But at the end of all this I feel so, so lonely.I do not have a good relationship with my family due to past events and barely speak with most of them besides my brother. I don’t have a girlfriend but feel a need for some kind of affection other than friendly jokes and conversations. I just want to be able to hug somebody. I don’t want sex or anything, I just want to feel like someone cares for me like I care for them. I feel so neglected. The other day I had a colleague of mine take my blood (I work in healthcare) and even the small amount of contact just touching and moving my arm made me feel almost relaxed. Is that how low my standards for physical contact have become? That being stabbed with a needle is comforting… how do I overcome this.