Why does being alone get such a bad reputation?

Question:

I mean I know you need people for support. I have depression so I know that well and my family provides that for me. They didn't always in the past. I have no friends right, at least none anywhere near me or that aren't busy with their own lives. I did things before like going to the movies or just eating myself. I thought people would look at me strange, but there are plenty of other people who do it to. I keep thinking I need to connect with people. But it tends to make me even more depressed by trying too hard to talk to people. It's like I'm not giving myself the chance to rely on myself. That I am not enough. When that is not the truth. We are told that we need to be independent, but being a "loner" is often frowned upon.

Answers:
I know, it drives me crazy. I am quite a solitary person. I will gladly go to the Cinemas and go shopping on my own. But i am accused of being 'sad'. The other day i was told that the reason i havnt got a 'life' is because i spend too much time reading. But i see people wasting time weekend, after weekend on alcohol. Now if you ask me, throwing money away on liquid that leaves you with a headache and no memory is a waste of life.

I think your great and it is a great ideal.
i guess those people depend to much on others.im prb one of them.good luck

Americans THRIVE on codependency.. People that are "independent" or "alone" are looked down on because people don't understand how others can live without having someone constantly in your face. I am one of those people that look at someone eating alone and ADMIRE them.. Most people refuse to go to the movies, a concert, or dinner alone. I agree that you need people for support and someone to lean on when things get tough, but that doesnt mean that you need to BE with someone 24-7.. That's not healthy either. You have to learn to love yourself, by yourself. I dont think that most people see that so I applaud you for your sense of independence.

If you can't enjoy your own company, how can you expect someone to do the same? When alone, you can go into retrospect and introspect to evolve into the emotional, social, professional and academic person you want to be.

Being alone doesn't get a bad reputation.. Where did you see that? 90% of people in a hotels are alone so..?

I don't want to disagree with you. Being alone is fine. However, becuase you are depressed/ are suffering from depression, being alone is not the answer. When you are depressed it is so easy to fall into habits and moods where being alone seems like the best idea. When you are alone you don't have to worry about what other people will say to you, or how to respond. You don't have to explain yourself, your thoughts, moods or ideas to anyone. When you are alosn you don't have to put up with all the little things that people can do to annoy and make you feel worse. But human contact is an important part of life. Experiements with babies and human contact have shown that those who recieve more physical and emotional support thrive more so than those who are only mildly or moderately exposed to such contact. Because depression is such a difficult time, the easy option is to be by ones self. It is not that you are not enough. Its that you cannot beat this illness alone. Being alone when you are depressed is not the same thing as being independent. Its hard to hear, I know, because you've already decided in your mind that when you are alone you are 'independent'. You have already decided that you are right and others are wrong about this, but you have to consider that this is not your rational thought it is a depressive mood that has made these choices and feelings. Talking does help, maybe you just have to find the right person to talk to.

sounds like your on the right track...

all the best

Why does being alone get such a bad reputation?

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