I'm not the sort of person who enjoys being on their own, which makes this really difficult. I left the country at 14 as my parents wanted to travel for business. I came back when I was 21 after being dragged around the world and now I'm really lonely. All my close school friends have moved away and grown up and for a while I was really depressed because I knew no one. I got a new job thinking maybe I could meet people, but it's a small accounting firm and no one there is interested in socialising. They don't get on very well anyway and the atmosphere is very tense. All my offers of pub lunches, etc have been turned down. I try to be happy and bubbly and always smile and say good morning and try to start conversations, but they aren't very sociable people and prefer to just work (in silence 95% of the time) until the end of the day! I've been told I'm too talkative! I also have no interest in the work, which doesn't help, but I really need the money and work experience so I'm stuck there for the time being. I try talking to my neighbours, but the area I live in is predominantly pensioners or very young students and there's no one I could really hang out with on a regular basis.

I want to meet people my own age (20's) and make close friends like I did in school, but nothing seems to work! I'm considering going to university, just for the social life and also because I hate the career I'm in, but it's going to cost tons and I would be 23 by the time I started, which seems quite old for a student! In the meantime, I'm really lonely and stuck at home most evenings and weekends. I went to a local fireworks display recently, hoping to meet people, but other than a few quick hellos, nothing much happened. I work very long hours too, so evening/weekend classes are not possible either - I looked into clubs and stuff at the local college.

Should I just give up and wait till I can afford to move to a younger area and go to uni? I really don't know what to do anymore. I've even got back in touch with my ex (who cheated on me), just so I would have someone to talk to! I'm sure I'm not a horrible person. I'm relatively intelligent, love going out and doing stuff and I'm very gregarious and have a good sense of humour. I don't smell or anything and I'm not hideously ugly - not enough to make people recoil in horror at least! I had great friends when I was growing up and I really miss that!

What can I do?

I know that it has been very hard for you to have been buffeted around to places, maybe make some friends and then have to leave them.

What are the types of things that you might be interested in concerning hobbies or activities. Are you interested in church things at all? Do you sing or play an instrument? Interested in reading novels? Are you a collector of collectibles? Do you like gardening? Are you into the musical theater or plays? Do you like to dance?

Just trying to give you an idea of some things that might be of interest to you where you might find a group of people to socialize with who have similar interests that you do.

I hope that you come back here! I can already tell that you have a talent for writing things.

~ Don't give up. 23 is hardly too old to start University, you will find that there are plenty of 20-somthings just starting college to better their lives and such.

~You could try joining a church if it suits you or maybe a bar dart or volleyball league. I was in your shoes not too long ago, I managed to meet new friends through my sister. I also joined a ceramics class and started coaching a cheerleading squad.

~ Give it some time, you will be fine. Good Luck!

I hope that SqueekUK comes back to this site!

Hello again!

Thank you for all your suggestions. I love art, writing, extreme sports, travelling, theatre, culturally stuff, gadgets and collect antique books (for starters), so I'm looking for groups locally. No luck so far (they all run while I'm at work), but I've made a decision to move on from this firm after 6 months and go elsewhere. Counting down the days keeps me sane for the time being!

I'm also seriously looking into the university option. I'm in the wrong career, so I may as well go and get a degree!

Hello again to you too, SqueekUK! And, thanks for coming back!

What are your hours for work? Also, I do like the fact that you are making some proactive choices for your life!

If your still living with your Mum and Dad, go out with them to Rsl clubs etc,
Even if your not living with them go out with them to the football etc it will give you confidence to talk to other people around you. It may sound silly but your family are your best friends they are there forever, (and you will still look cool).
As you get older you may have lots of really good friends but you'll still call your Mum and Dad every couple of days.
Friends will come.
One day you'll get married and have children and then you'll never feel lonely, just very busy. Uni sounds fun I want to go to uni and become a nurse and I'm 33 with three baby boys.