What Do You Do When You Feel Alone?

[vee]

[quote name='got2luvjc' timestamp='1318108051' post='2318111']
Hey y'all, just looking for some ideas of how to (or how you) shake off the "I'm alone in this world and unloved" blues.

[/quote]

You dont shake it off, it is God drawing you closer to Himself. St Ignatius of Loyola's spiritual exercises and discernment of spirits may be of help to you here, or Ralph Martin's book The Fulfillment of All Desire, or St John of the Cross' The Ascent of Mt Carmel, or St Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle etc.

[vee]

[size=3][size=2][color=#cc6600][b][size=3]Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! [u]You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. [/u] You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.[/size][/b][/color][/size][/size]

St Augustine of Hippo

[dominicansoul]

A dominican sister once told me, that in all stages of life, whether single, married or in religious life, we all experience an "essential loneliness." This is there because we are all striving for that perfect union with God that we will never accomplish until we are in paradise with Him. This isn't a negative experience, it keeps us striving for intimacy with God.

[vee]

or The Spiritual Canticle of St John of the Cross

Where have You hidden Yourself,
And abandoned me in my groaning, O my Beloved?
You have fled like the hart,
Having wounded me.
I ran after You, crying; but You were gone.

(skip)

Quench my troubles,
For no one else can soothe them;
And let my eyes behold You,
For You are their light,
And I will keep them for You alone.

[got2luvjc]

I find hiking to be a great positive experience of solitude. I'm going on my first overnight solo hiking excursion this weekend, I can't wait to have that much time to meditate and pray and read and just chill the heck OUT

[Basilisa Marie]

Adoration and a rosary. Rosaries are pretty much a cure-all for anything for me.

[i<3franciscans]

I talk to my guardian angel. Angels are always there.

[OnlySunshine]

I've always had issues with loneliness since I was diagnosed with depression 12 years ago. I've managed to recover with the help of medication and ongoing therapy, but I wanted friends (which is odd considering that I thought of myself as a loner for a long time). I talked to my therapist and she recommended that I seek out groups near me. I wanted to attend my Catholic Young Adult group more often but they moved all the way on the other side of town and it's a trek and a half just to get there (and, quite frankly, too much gas used). So, she tried to get me to look into what is known as a Toastmaster's Club. She told me that she had been a part of one when she was in school getting her degree in Social Work and it helped her with public speaking and just relating to others. I looked into it but they have quarterly fees, which I cannot afford. She was quite astonished to hear that they had member fees because they didn't when she was involved.

Anyway, I continued looking and praying for a way to socialize with people, preferably in the Catholic Church. I used to make rosaries with the Rosary Group at my Church for the missions, but I am unable to do that now with my class taking place during the same time. Then, it was announced in Mass a few months ago that out pastor was bringing Christ Renews His Parish to us and, thanks to my mom, we paid for the weekend and went together. It was AMAZING! I've never met such beautiful women in my entire life. Each and every one of them has such an amazing story to tell and after that weekend, our formation meetings started so that we could prepare ourselves to be the next presenters at the next CRHP women's weekend in March 2012. I look forward to Tuesday nights every week now. When we leave, I can't wait for the next meeting. We offer such prayerful support to one another and keep in contact through email throughout the week, especially if anyone has any prayer intentions. It was such a support to me when my mom went to California the week after our CRHP weekend and I was worried about her surgery. She was lifted up in prayer by all my CRHP sisters and I feel so blessed to have that support.

Getting involved in ministries in the Church is a wonderful way to make friends. I'm an EMHC and now in the CRHP formation team #1. I've also been in the choir and Rosary group in the past. I would highly recommend that, if you have such groups like CRHP, Parish Outreach, Council of Catholic Women, Catholic Young Adults, etc. that you make a few meetings and see which ones you feel called to join. You learn so much by meeting these women and forming friendships that last a lifetime. I love going to Mass and seeing several friendly faces there. I feel much more at home now that I know more of my fellow parishioners. I don't feel lonely at all anymore, which is wonderful -- not only for my recovery, but also because I am discerning religious life.

Spending time in prayer and getting to know God is also how I overcame my depression. I go to daily Mass sometimes, Adoration, and I pray spontaneous prayer always. Pray the Rosary. Develop a relationship with your parish, your priest -- but most importantly -- Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother. Through them, I've experienced so many graces.

I hope this helps! God bless you!

[got2luvjc]

Thanks for sharing, [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/user/9546-matermisericordiae/"][color="#272727"]MaterMisericordiae[/color][/url]

I am now on the core team for the Dioceasen Young Adult Ministry, and I'm also now a volunteer with my parish's Life Teen group. I'm also going to mass at least once during the week (on top of Sunday). All these things I hope will being me a web of support and friendship, and if nothing else they'll be a positive way to spend my time!

[FutureSister2009]

Yes Adoration is probably the best answer. But I also love to watch happy videos like pretty much anything Disney will do it.

[got2luvjc]

I still have the old Disney videos that came in the fat VHS cases :D

[Papist]

Take your laptop and go to a coffee shop/bookstore with WiFi. The fact that there are people around deadens the alone feeling. And remember...it is only a feeling.