Coping

Trying to reach out to people? That might sound crappy, but its really the only thing that helps in the long term, instead of just covering up or distracting yourself from the feeling. I've been almost completely isolated from people for 5 years now, and truly the only thing that helps is actually interacting with people. And I've tried just about everything else. I'm a master of distraction. But it doesn't really help, it just makes it so that my feelings of loneliness fester and get worse in the back of my mind, so the second I stop distracting myself I get punched with the feelings. Not fun.

I know that it can be hard to reach out to people, so take it in tiny steps. Even interacting with people here on the forum is a step. It's not the same and its no replacement for actual in person interactions, but I know that interacting with people here on the forum has really helped me feel more connected with others, which eases some of the loneliness that I feel otherwise. It can also help you build your confidence, if something like social anxiety is what's causing you to be lonely.