late 20s - living with parent, no social life and not one single friend
years later at the end of college, i met another guy at my restaurant job. we clicked immediately, and had everything in common. we dated for a year, but it was very rocky, and he excluded me from hanging out with our mutual coworkers. i told him how badly this hurt me, and he said "stop trying for friends, at least you have your dog and your dad." when he dumped me, he stated he would "find a girl that needs less love and takes up less of his time." he also stated "im not spending my 20s in my bedroom like you." (i didn't want to! when he dumped me i traveled solo around the world to prove to myself that wasn't me, but i am still friendless and lonely.).
I’ve never once been invited out in a real way by groups, even by the guys who got along well with me too. I remember one of my old teammates sending a Snapchat of them all out, and i was like “sick invite” because i was tired of being shown things I was not apart of, and he was like “you’re too good to be around all these people.” but would continue to try and hangout with me 1 on 1? So the guys i connected with also hung out with the girls who never integrated me, and basically continued that pattern of exclusion that the girls did.
with female friends, i've always been on the peripheral. i've been invited when i can provide a service, such as driving, bringing items, providing the alcohol. if i am no longer of use or cannot provide the service, i am cut out or disinvited and the plans continue. this pattern played out my teen years and through my mid 20s. it's made me feel worthless.
i am now in my late 20s and chronically ill, with a disfiguring disease that has altered my appearance and multiple autoimmune diseases. i am incredibly lonely. barely hanging onto a 9-5 job and living with my dad. All of these repeated, chronic rejections and getting chronically ill and nobody was there for me have left me very angry. I have gone back and forth deleting social media, muting people and hiding them from my social media stories who have ignored my attempts to reach out and it makes me feel horrible and i see people i’ve been excluded hanging out. i don't see a way to get the community and friendships i desperately need. i am not a happy solo camper, i am in despair and i feel brain damaged. i feel like society left me behind.
does anybody else relate to this experience? is anybody else in their 20s with no friends?
Posted Jul 25, 2026, 7:34 PM UTC