I feel like isolating myself, but deep inside I am very lonely. What do I do?

Get involved! Go join a sport, or a gaming net.. Get a hobby and find people who like it too. I was severely depressed for years, and you need to get involved before bad stuff happens... Don't isolate yourself or you'll feel more lonely. Good luck!

You shouldn't be in isolation ENTIRELY. Sure you can talk just a few words a day to a few people but not total solitude. If you are lonley and want to talk to some people, compliment them. It will help get you used to being around people and it would make the person receiving the compliment feel great.

What you may want to do is take baby steps, such as sitting outside at the park. Then maybe a step up could be to bring a friend and talk to them while you're there or meet somewhere else or talk to someone new and try and make a friend, then you can try to have a small group maybe. It can even start as small as smiling at strangers or noticing and being in the presence of people and working from there! It all depends on your comfort zones at the moment because you know you best!

You should first try to realize why you want to isolate yourself. Is it because you just don't like the people around you, do they make you sad by their actions or personalities etc. If you find yourself being in a bad mood, which is caused by those around you it might be a good idea to just go on without them. The right people will come, but there is no point in keeping up with people who make you sad just because you feel lonely.

You might fear that by letting someone in, they might hurt you. Isolating yourself is a defense mechanism against it.

Try to talk to people on a regular basis, texting can help because you don't have to reply immediately if you don't want to :)

Sometimes it is so important to reach out for help. Scheduling is always a good thing when life feels a little upside down. Set up a schedule for yourself every day. Set aside time to be around people and seek out valuable human connection, but also make sure to set time to be with yourself. Read a book, meditate, exercise, practice mindful breathing. Loneliness is a long and difficult road, but it can subside if you work at it. Talk to a therapist or a councilor and try to find people in your community that you relate to.

Realize that loneliness is a feeling, not a fact. When you are feeling lonely, it is because something has triggered a memory of that feeling, not because you are in fact, isolated and alone. The brain is designed to pay attention to pain and danger, and that includes painful scary feelings; therefore loneliness gets our attention.

Finding hobbies can me an amazing way to meeting people! Taking time off or volunteering somewhere is a fantastic way to meeting other nice people! You're not alone you have us!

I've been there more times than I can count. What helps the most, although is also the hardest, is reaching out to someone. Asking to hang out. To spend time together. To talk. We often think that we won't be lonely only if somebody else invites us to spend time together, but that's not true - we need to look out for ourselves as well. So contact someone, maybe an old friend? Might be an opportunity to catch up.