I can't keep being the person who reaches out

[Jamspamandham]

I've put some boundaries in place and I'm no longer the person to maintain any and all relationships in my life. The downside to this is I've not heard from anyone, even family, in several months. I'm a single parent and have discovered I have nobody.

I think this is becoming more and more common, I see daily comments around the internet from people who feel the same.

What’s your relationship like when you do reach out?

That's a bit rubbish.
Maybe you could make contact with some of these people if you are missing them? Sometimes people do love you but you're just not on their immediate radar.

Cold and one sided. It's something I've recognised with time and distance, so there isn't any great loss to not having them in my life. It's not them I miss it's the realisation that I've got no one.

I'm doing the same. I'm always the one to reach out so I'm taking a step back.

Honestly I feel the same. I work full time and I'd see no one if I didn't work. The realization when lockdown ended that my life wouldn't be any different...in fact I saw my neighbours more over the garden fence, sitting out in gardens, my young adult kids were home. I'm sociable, have aqusntences, from the outside probably look like I'm sorted. I'm really not.

If it’s not them you miss can you work on new relationships with new people?

I know that sounds simplistic but it beats giving up doesn’t it?

Same here tbh.

I haven't seen or been out with a single friend in nearly two years because I decided I'd stop being the one to always reach out. I'm not even sure they're friends anymore. I never hear from them and only received cursory replies when I contacted them. So I just stopped.

I have two adult children who I hear from and a brother who doesn't answer the phone if I call so I no longer bother.