I'm a loner by nature yet I feel lonely the most when I'm surrounded by people.

Sorry you are feeling this way, but I'm so encouraged by your honesty about it. How about a faith family? Do you have a church you go to? My experience, is that we all have a need that is only filled when we are connected to our faith (mine is Christ). I've heard the phrase multiple times that 'we all have a God sized hole in our heart that only He can fill'. Just a thought. This has been true for me.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201707/solutions-the-solitary?collection=1103573

I also grew up as an only child. I always figured the reason why I am not desperate to have other people around me 24/7 like so many people seem to be, was because I learned to entertain myself growing up. This thread blows that theory.

OP - I understand. Also an only child now w 2 kids, good (enough) marriage. I've lost a lot of my old friendships from leaving town, it's been a slow grind to find any friendships I would want - moms just aren't interesting people who I'm around and it's mostly men at work. I've always gotten around better w boys actually - many old boyfriends are friends - married or not but I can't talk to them often for obvious reasons lol my family is non existent with divorced parents who don't talk and are dysfunctional to not want a relationship with either. Not close to my husbands family either.

I'm going to tell you my secret to getting by: I do my best to get through and remember good times in my life from past. I remind myself that life is of moments stringed together some god awful and some fab. It's all just moments. I wish I had the relationships of others socially, I wish it were easy to enjoy people, I wish I had a family, etc. but I am close to my kids, DH and I can read, watch movies and TV and live in the little world that's mine. You will never stop feeling alone if you have all your life as I have. Accept and stop questioning cause people who don't get it never will and you'll never figure it out. Know that we all have moments and remember the good ones. As a good friend used to always tell me - the beautiful stand alone. I know what you are talking about and you aren't alone. But realistically you have to find your peace that in this life it is what it is. Good luck.

You have to teach yourself to enjoy being alone. I am never lonely or bored, and I have never felt that way. I have enough inside of myself to fill my mind, books to read, my piano to play, my motorcycle....I have so much to occupy my time. I can get lost in a book and find that two hours have passed. Learn to zone out and chill. I do not have friends because I've never needed them. I'm happy the way that I am. That's when you know that you are truly content with yourself.