07 Oct FEEL LIKE YOU Have No Friends? Here’s What to Do
via Very Well Mind by Arlin Cuncic
You might have noticed that, as a kid, you found it easy to make friends. But, as you’ve reached adulthood, your friends’ list may have dwindled a bit (or a lot). So, not only might you have fewer friends, but maybe you even have difficulty making new friends at this stage in your life.
This is a familiar feeling among adults. What happened? Why can’t adults seem to find people with whom they connect?
People want to be liked, and people want (and need) friends. Plus, it feels good to like other people. But sometimes, life gets in the way, and many find themselves unable to make any new friends or keep the friendships that are already there.
So, if you feel like you have no friends, what can you do? This article describes why you might not have many friends right now, the benefits of having a social life, ways to make new friends, and how to keep them once you’ve established a friendship.
Reasons Why You Might Not Have Friends
There are myriad reasons why you might not have many (or any) friends. Of course, these reasons are unique to each individual. But, let’s take a look at some of the common reasons why you might not have any friends:
- You’re shy. For some, it isn’t easy to start conversations with people they don’t know. So you avoid social situations and stay in rather than go out to meet new people.
- You have social anxiety. Social anxiety is the feeling of intense fear in social situations. It can be paralyzing and prevent you from doing things that might make you happy, like making friends or meeting new people.
- You move around a lot. It can be challenging to make and keep friends if you move a lot. When you start to feel comfortable with a new friend group, you might find yourself needing to start all over again.
- You’re a loner. Maybe you just prefer being alone. Some people (especially introverts) feel they should have more friends but, in reality, feel comfortable spending time alone.
- Your interests don’t match up with your coworkers or neighbors. Maybe you prefer tea and visiting coffee shops over beer and watching football games.
- You don’t know where to look. You might not have much opportunity to meet people in person because of your job or lifestyle and don’t know where else to look.
- You’re trying too hard. You may be putting too much pressure on yourself to make friends, and it backfires because people see you as needy or feel that you share personal information about yourself too soon.
- You’re not prioritizing friendships. You might have some friends or acquaintances, but you don’t really keep in touch, and they eventually stop contacting you as well.
- Your friendships are only surface-level. You know a lot of people, but you don’t let anyone get close to you.
- Your life is already ‘full’ enough. Maybe you’re busy with a demanding job, family commitments, school, or other responsibilities.
Making Friends When You Have Social Anxiety
The Benefits of Having a Good Social Life
Friends can be a source of emotional support when needed. A good friend is there for the good times, but they’re with you through difficult situations or challenging life events. Below are some other benefits of having friends.https://0e876dfeb30cca3c0558561fac12227a.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
- Increased happiness. Studies have shown that being extroverted, and consequently having more friendships and social support, can lead to increased happiness.1Happiness comes from having a healthy social life. This means having enough friends that provide you with quality interactions.
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