by Bridget Webber

Created on: June 08, 2009   Last Updated: July 06, 2010

Many people struggle with feeling isolated and lonely. At the time this experience strikes, it can be hard to imagine that anything will ever change. For this reason lonely people may fall into depression, unable to see a way out of their dilemma. 

Mankind is a sociable beast. Even introverts are not made to live entirely without support. Therefore, loneliness is a call from the centre of an individuals being, urging him or her to seek out a community to belong to. Indeed, it is often a sense of not belonging that sets individuals apart in the first place and leads them to back away from other people. 

At times we may become isolated due to circumstances beyond our control. When a partner dies or abandons us, or when we age and our friends disappear from our lives, and even when we move home to a new abode, we can become lonely. We may also experience loneliness when we have many people around us. If we feel separate from them, or disconnected our loneliness can become exaggerated as a result. 

A huge difficulty with loneliness many people face is that they simply don't know how to change their situation. The longer they are isolated the more withdrawn they become, and so less able to make new friends and associates. 

Sometimes the best way to make the first step towards positive alteration of circumstances is to explore what opportunities are available to you where you live. A visit to the main library, village hall or community centre may prove to be enlightening. Most of these places have posters on the walls and leaflets to take away informing people about activities and events that are due to take place locally. 

Evening classes, discussion groups, exercise groups, avid film watchers clubs and cookery classes are just a few of the possible ways to meet new people with whom you may have something in common.

Taking that first step towards change isn't always easy. It can feel as though you are the only lonely person on the planet and that everyone else has a group of friends apart from you. Remembering that there are many, many people out there who feel like you do and who would love to meet you can give you the energy to reach out to others, and offer your support to them in return.

Another way that you can create more meaning in your life and friendships is to engage in voluntary work to help people in need. It may feel to you like you are the one in need now and then, but voluntary work is a two way process. Both the helper

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