Loneliness is rotten!

So true. I too have lost many many friends...so beit...So wanna be my friend?

I agree this is very very true I don't have many friends too because of this disease. Even work colleagues don't include you in anything.

The disease is invisible and you are invisible that's how it felt yesterday morning at work. Something was said and I responded straight away and don't always say the right thing but it was said and was taken the wrong way.

Hi Sophie, I'm sorry you're feeling lonely. RA can make you feel very isolated, especially as it's invisible.

When I was diagnosed, I quickly learned that having a handful of close, true friends meant more than a bunch of acquaintances who didn't understand. One thing that helped me in my social life was becoming the organiser. I always was the social secretary but took the lead a bit more and was able to steer activities towards things that were achieveable for me and didn't involve, for example, lots of walking. The other thing that helped was being really, really honest and telling my friends the truth instead of hiding behind "oh I'm ok". I found that once I was open and honest, they remembered how difficult things are for me and adapted things.

You are never alone on here.

From a fellow Sophie

I agree .

Most of the people I know , have absolutely no idea what we r going through ....

We could be friends ?

Xxx

Oh bless you. I'm so sorry you feel so low at the moment, Sophie. This can be a very isolating disease that few know about and fewer understand. My old Nan used to say " nothing lasts forever, good or bad". Huge hugs

Jan

Hi Sophie,

Sorry you feel bad..I check in here several times during the night, if you're lonely and want to chat, "ping me"! I'm in the U.S.(west coast) so I'm around late if you can't sleep and need to chat.

Hugs,

Dani

We are kindred spirits lol I am a serious dog lover and my pet supply store was named Sophie's Pet Palace 😜

I am sure I speak for everyone when I say , you are not alone.

I had two businesses and managed my husbands plumbing business. I went from fourteen hour work days to sudden stop.

I did not mind the first eighteen months. I could barely sit up and was far to ill to do anything. I am now joining PVN Patient voices network. It is a Patient Partner Program in which you participate in policy making committees. I am Canadian but I have no doubt similar programs exist in all countries.

Shorter reply, yes loneliness SUCKS!

You've definitely hit the nail on the head with that one - chronic disease show you who your true friends really are,and unfortunately for me,it's cost me pretty much my whole social circle,and some of my family - I understand they have life's to get on with,but when you've been ignored for the best part of three years,it does get you down.... esp if you're living on your own and staring at the inside of the same house for weeks at a time😩

Keep smiling,your real friends will be there for you no matter what,and it's those people,even if they're only at the end of the phone,that make all the difference between me wanting to just lock the doors and stay hidden,or mustering the strength to get out of the house - even if it's for just an hour a week to the local shops - that teeny bit of social interaction really can make all the difference when you're feeling low x