No friends left.

[regretsihaveafew]

I've never had a lot of friends but in recent years I've lost all of them. I'm in my 60's now [divorced, live alone] but v active and well, plenty of interests but do not socialise at all well. Dislike group activities, classes of people, cliques. Always, always feel I do not fit in nor make friends easily. Very much a one to one person.

I've lost friends very recently, 1 died, 1 moved away, and one was a toxic friendship and I had to let it go.

And now the last friendship is coming to an end [long story].....and I shall now be entirely on my own. Friendless.

I'm panicking. I have no problem keeping busy, there is a lot for me to do, loads of places to go [on my own, but used to that]....but with no one at all! No phone calls, no one to catch up with and have a good chat.

I'm even thinking of going to warden controlled housing...just to have people around me. But feel it may be a bit early for that.

Any ideas? Feeling anxious, panicky and a bit sick.

I've heard of the red hat group as well, think it began in the states.

Walking group, bird watching group (lots of time to sit around, I'm clutching at straws), faith-based group of some kind? Prisons often need volunteers and I've always thought it must be a really nice bunch of people who would get involved.

Find your local Unitarian chapel and attend a service. You do not have to believe anything specific. I am not one myself, but my mother is and has friends all over the country. They are a really lovely group of welcoming people, kind and interesting and not judgemental.

Join the Womens Institute? Help out at the local stables? Join a book club?

Are you on Facebook? Find 'girlcrew' for your area.

Volunteer at the local Hospice? Admin/shop staff needed too.

You could also join Grasnet, you don't have to be a grandparent and they meet up sometimes for lunch in their local areas.