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“Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

“Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Hi,

I wasn’t sure where to post this but this forum seemed most relevant.

So much in this world the statement is made “Your not alone” in relation to others being is the same situation. I know it is stated as a point of support but it’s never made any sense to me and largely feels like a slap in the face and devalues my sense of feeling alone.

I know there are many in the world that suffer but just because I suffer with my own demons doesn’t mean I’m there for them or they for me. We all have similarities. We all have differences. There are variables for all of us that make us unique.

I think what it is that rubs me the wrong way with this statement is that I don’t have a deep connection to anyone. I have borderline personality disorder - relationships and connecting is the hardest of things for me. I have relationships. I’ve had some deep relationships but they don’t last. I become “too much” for people. For those that have a need to support - I drain them dry and they leave. Many just don’t get my variables. Although I have one friend atm who see’s the different versions of me. He enjoys the up ones, supports the down ones, accepts the in between ones. Jokes about which one shows up at different times. I also support him with his issues and help him understand others like me.

BUT I have absolutely no one that I can talk to that really understands… not any more. My mum pasted away in July. She understood much of me, more than anyone else. She accepted and encouraged me.

I’ve fought this battle solidly for many years. I’ve been really good for the last few but the passing of my mum has put me in a new place.

I’ve felt alone before, I accepted and embraced it. I found strength in being alone so the feeling of loneliness dissipated to the point I rarely felt it but since my mum’s passing. It’s come back in full and worse than ever. She has left a void that can not be replaced but is filled with a deep sense of loneliness. In large part I believe do the the fact she was the deepest, longest standing connection I had and grieving for her and that connection. Accepting that it’s gone and learning to live life with it, with out her. She was my mum, I knew it would happen one day. I was hoping for more time but hey, don’t we all. I always knew it would be bad but trying to rebalance life without her, coming to terms with this new form on loneliness… This I am struggling with.

I am largely good… like all things me, I have accepted her passing, I’m doing all the self care, I’m doing grief counselling which has helped. Logically, I’m moving on and getting on with life… Emotionally… damn emotions… Emotionally I’m not good. I’m getting hit with waves of emotions, my anxiety is stupid. I’m struggling to leave my house and be normal in the world. I can’t keep up the fascard so good atm so I stay at home a lot and avoid the world. I’m making plans and moving forward, I’m doing what I have to do. I have a clear path ahead of me and I forge ahead with hope with the knowledge that this too will pass. It always does. I will come to terms with it all. It will evolve, I will evolve and change.

This is the ending to my ‘upper’ family. It’s now just me and my adult children. This element I am happy with. It allows me to fully let go of my family trauma, clean the slate and start fresh. To stand in my strength and new sense of myself, be who I am without my family instead of in spite of them.

11 replies

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In response to: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Hey there @Josie72

I totally get where you're coming from and how alone it really can feel. It can sometimes be frustrating when people tell me that I am not alone yet that's exactly how I feel, but then I remember that even though I may not have the physical support from some people, there are always ways I can connect with others that will at least listen to me while I rant (for example on these forums).

Do you currently speak to a professional or have any supports that you connect with that might not be family or friends?

I am really sorry for the loss of your mum and sending you lots of hugs ❤️

In response to: Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Hey @amber22

Forums like these are my main place for support. I have a couple of friends but I try to limit how much I depend on them as I don’t want them to walk away as so many others have done.

I’ve been doing grief counselling but only have 1 session left. I did a form for support through Sane just before I did this post which I’m hoping will be approved.

I’ve been good for many years so didn’t have any professional support services in place. My GP is good but limited and I live in a small town so support is limited, difficult to get into and expensive so I tend to reach out to forums when I’m going thru something and need a little understanding. Which is also hard to get in person as so few people actually understand all this stuff

In response to: Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

I'm so glad that forums have been a safe space for you to get some support @Josie72

I think that SANE would be a great support for you, hopefully you hear back soon.

It can be really tough living in a small town which doesn't have many supports around. Do you have a trusted friend that you could confide in a little bit?

In response to: Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Hey,
I don’t have anyone I can confide in not as much as I need anyways. I have a couple that I can say small things to but even that can be a little to much for peeps at times.

I’ve been accepted into the Sane Support.. Just finished the profile for it

In response to: Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

I'm glad you got accepted @Josie72 🙂

For me, I actually used these very forums as part of my recovery. It allowed me to connect with others and I really developed a sense of belonging and connection here.

In the real world, people didn't want to hear about what was going on for me. I think they didn't know what to do. If there was anyone I could talk to, I'd soon rely on them so much and pretty much leech off them - hence the relationship wasn't sustainable.

To be honest, things haven't been easy with BPD. But through intensive psychotherapy, things have really changed for me.

Feel free to use this space as a sounding board for what's happening for you as long as it is within guidelines 🙂 https://saneforums.org/t5/help/faqpage/title/community-guidelines

See you around!

In response to: Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Hey @Josie72 ,

I hear you. Thank you for sharing. I can relate to many parts of what you have said.

I have BPD, although now, I'm in a really really good place. It wasn't always like that though.

I spent years feeling lonely. Upon retrospect, this is what I've learn about things. Being ALONE and feeling LONELY are totally different things. When I was in utter despair, I was never ALONE in person, but I always felt alone. I was surrounded by people and yet the loneliness and void ate me up. I was like the living dead. Living but not really living.

Fast forward to today, my BPD is in such a good place. I've learnt to embrace it. I learnt to love it. Nowadays, I live alone and have for the past 10 years or so. And you know what? Although I am alone, I NEVER feel lonely. The void has been filled and if anything, I just want time to myself.

From living to die, I now live everyday to live more. I never thought this would be possible.

I'm hearing that the passing of your mother has had significant impact on you. Yet the void and emptiness can be filled. Allow yourself to live. Allow yourself to feel what it's like to live.

It IS possible, and there IS hope.

Remember, you can be alone but not feel lonely.

I'm here if you need a chat. I'll also be sending you a quick email.

In response to: Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Hey @Josie72 , sorry, the two posts above appeared in the wrong order. The last post should be first... oops!

In response to: Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Hi @tyme

yep. Totally the same with relationships. Now I try to balance and keep my distance when I’m bad. I’ve got peeps around me when things aren’t good, especially when there is an acceptable situation to not be good. They are also good at accepting me. For whatever mode I’m in but I have to make sure I don’t talk too much about my woes so they don’t leave.

I’ve done DBT which was amazing for me.

I’m seeking support with Sane Support to get thru the combination of my life & grief

In response to: Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

I guess the idea of boundaries is very important. Self-imposed boundaries? So to talk about what you need to and keep the rest to yourself? Only you know how much to share @Josie72

In response to: Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

Re: “Your not alone” BUT I always feel alone.

@tyme

Yes my self imposed boundaries are very important to me to keep the relationships I value. They can be very hard to keep though but thankfully I always have an exit strategy. So that when I get feed back that I’ve breached a boundary I can usually get out before I go to far. I’m constantly watching myself and others to try and read a situation. If I can’t exit then I’ll shut down.

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