Feeling Lonely? This Might Help… | Russell Brand 

“I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel alone.” ~ Robin Williams

I need a hug, but there's nobody I can ask for one. I've never felt more lonely in my life.

Im gonna be 26 next month and it feels like the older i get the more conscious i become of my loneliness. I think real true human connections are miraculous.

It twists the guts to be alone. But its pains the soul to not know why

Anyone else get that feeling at night when you re wasting your time and feel guilty about it so your stomach starts to turn

I'm 22 and the loneliest I've ever felt.

At one time I thought that I was alone until I realized that I wasn’t. I opened my eyes and realized that I was surrounded by all kinds of creatures. I started paying attention to the birds, the lizards, you know just everything. Nature has taught me that.

I just need new friends man. Every time I try to make plans with my friends they either give me a bullshit excuse or they bail on me. I want some outgoing friends who actually wanna explore new places and have fun.

I read everyone’s posts on here and realise that I am not alone.

I can’t remember the last time I’ve laughed with friends. The world was a much better place before all this shit happened

Loneliest time in my life was when I spent years bedridden and all my friends drifted away from me, and I was taking care of myself barely surviving and not sure how much further I’d make it. And let me say, there is no better feeling than taking back my life now. Always fight on.

I’d rather feel alone and calm than in a toxic relationship. Speaking from recent experience

Just realized I don't have any friends.....just useless acquaintances

You're not a machine with broken parts, you're a human with unmet needs.

24 and feel so alone and empty 🥺 just feel like I'm going no where with my life

I feel terrible, I barely have any friends and don’t really contact often, I feel as though no one truly cares about me, I am stuck as the listener and literally can’t talk because they all keep on talking and talking and talking, I am drained , exhausted, forgotten by the people I put so much effort in, gave so much of my care and attention to just be discarded, I feel empty

I’m 34 and I’m feeling lonely because all my friends have gotten married and have children and I’m alone living every day in my apartment only leaving for work and school during this pandemic.

I feel lonelier when I'm with people than I do on my own. Anyone else feel this?

I am 32 years old and the most lost and clueless I've ever been; loneliness comes 2nd, even a pretty damn close third at this point. I want to figure out what I am doing and where I am going.

After losing my parents at age 12 I never had a childhood nor any friends I just worked to survive. I’m 29 and have older brother witch has mental problems. All of my Relationships with women have left me for reasons. Loneliness is horrifying and alone in this big world.

I got rid of my Instagram account over a month ago and I've never been happier. I've gotten to know myself and what I actually want in life. Social media makes me feel isolated, I have a constant reminder that all those people are not talking to me. Now I'm spending my time learning and loving myself. :)

I’m 24 and I can confirm that I have felt lonely since age 16 maybe even 14, it’s absolutely because of social media, I’ve recently deleted all my social media and have never felt better, social media has had such a negative effect on society I wish more people realised this instead of using it as a tool for everyday life, dating apps are no better maybe even worse

Covid has made loneliness even harder to avoid. Just moved to a new city and my work is entirely virtual. I have no friends here and my coworkers already know each other and hang out without me

I had no clue what loneliness and depression meant until my wife died a couple weeks ago... So sad , so alone , all our dreams gone

when you dont have friends neither virtually nor in real life

I’ve always been lonely but ever since my mom passed away almost two months ago I think I’m in the loneliest phase my life has ever been...

I feel like I’ve been my only friend for most of my life...

i saw in the comments on an NF video: “it’s crazy how you can relate to someone you never met way more than people you have known your whole life”

I’m 21 years old. Living in a third-world country with a middle-class family, it hurts to know that you can’t really tell other people about feeling lonely, because everyone just says: why are you lonely? you’re provided with everything. What are you looking for, you don’t have problems.

Loneliness for me is loving someone when they are totally indifferent to you. I have been through this lately and it can definitely mess with the head.

Im 45 and i feel im just floating in space by myself

Loneliness is weird. You can be on your own for years and never feel lonely, and you can be in a relationship or have a lot of social interaction (friends) and feel lonely a f 🤷🏼‍♂️

I used to feel so alone and then I decreased my friends down to two and now I feel more loved than ever before, from the outside and from within

The only time I feel safe and authentic is when I'm alone. The last few times I've reached out...I've been lied to, manipulated and stolen from.

I feel like I'm only "loved" when I'm living my life for others instead of for myself. Then when I do what makes me feel good; the people I thought loved me think I'm selfish and ignore me like I dont exist...

I lost my mom when I was 32. I recently survived cancer. Something about me changed over these years. I prefer to be alone most of the time but I still crave human interaction but a healthy interaction. I tried the retail therapy and that's another cycle that you have to break or you become broke. Loneliness is a vicious cycle. Time matters there is no doubt. We just have to figure out how to make the most of it. Russell I love your videos that you post. You've matured in such a great way over the years. You have some great outlooks and advice on life. Thank you for your insight on things and your perspective that many of us have but most can't share or articulate with anyone. You're my therapist and I appreciate you and the things you post. You really help me through many days. I really just wanted to say thank you. Much love and peace always.

I find my self getting more lonely as i get older .

Loneliness is dangerous. It’s addicting. Once you see how peaceful it is, you don’t wanna deal with people. - Hedonist Poet

Loneliness a painful catalyst for creating a beautiful Soul. Hurts so much.

I think the problem is a lot of people value sexual relationships over Friendships.

Thought-provoking and brillant commentary on loneliness. I am about to turn 70 years young and I really appreciate all you said. Wisdom...beyond your years. You do "have to stand guard at the doors of your mind".

“Most of man’s misery is derived by his inability to sit quietly in a room by himself.” -Blaise Pascale I choose to not have social media. Haven’t had any other than this for almost a year. Since deleting my social media accounts, I’d reach out to people I considered good friends, but overtime the texts/calls from the other end slowly dissipated. To the point where now, if I’m being honest with myself, only stay in communication with my family and two friends on a daily basis. Since changing my lifestyle, I’ve been meditating and journaling more. Connecting with nature again. Taking myself out on “dates.” All of which helps. Still I want to love myself enough to the point where I thoroughly enjoy being alone in a quiet room with myself. Not constantly checking my phone for a missed text or call. Just at peace and in the moment with myself. Thereafter, I’d like to make more meaningful connections. I’m going to focus in on how I can achieve those things now. Thank you for the advice. 💛

Never alone, always lonely. Easy to find, seldom seen.

I'm 19 and I generally feel lonely. I have friends and family members that love me but still I feel something missing. I can't tell what is missing but sometimes I feel like I'm not enough, I'm a complicated person to understand, I feel scared to bore someone I like, I feel like I should feel lonely because I deserve it. I don't know... All I hope is that this feeling will go away somehow, because I'm so tired of it.

I feel so alone for the longest time. Nobody there... Sending love for everyone. ❤❤❤

Im 67 had a unloved or connected raising..a lifetime of trying to please.. now Im resigned to being alone. The loneliest you can ever feel is having many interactions and connections to realise they think you are a joke. How young people cope with the instrusive connectivity as maturing teens makes me grateful for my inderpendance and resiliance..but Im forever mindful that no man is an island. The ease of conectivity and interaction possible now has devalued company and it shows in things like ghosting and dysfuntional context when communicating

Dang. This guy is a goldmine for quotes... I agree in this day and age of social media, I think people are more isolated than ever. It's amazing that the more technology connects us, the less connected we have become.

Imagine having a phone call with Russel Brand.. would be like talking to your best mate but having the confidence to open up to a stranger.. what a guy! Always feels like you’re listening to your mate when you listen to Russel.. such an intelligent bloke.. with real and honest experiences.. I’d take the phone call any day of the week. Thanks for your videos Mr Brand.

Social distancing is really compounding my loneliness. I cried a lot at first. Many many panic attacks. My drinking got worse for a couple weeks. I didn't think I could get through several weeks (months?) of this. I've been doing a lot of work on myself, that at first I was super resistant to, but now I'm starting to embrace it. My daily mantra has become: "when you can't go outside, go inward." Anyway, thank you for this video. I found a lot of wisdom and consolation in your words

I don’t have social media. And now I feel lonelier than before when I had it.

Watched this in the middle of the night, like I was awoken from that despair feeling, and I couldn’t sleep. With this and my hammock, I finally got an hour or two before going into work, but had the emotional/spiritual energy to get through the day. Thank you Russell ❤️

I'm 51 and the loneliest I've ever been. So much of my family is dead, and also some of my friends. Other friends are wrapped up in busy lives with no room for anyone else right now, and some of my friends want to hear nothing but positivity (no matter what I'm feeling), so I can't talk to them. And I'm working overnights at an assisted living facility. So, I'm taking care of people and the building, but I'm a servant, not a full human being. I don't matter as myself, only for the tasks I do. And having to sleep during the day and living in a city that practically rolls up the streets at night, makes it worse. I've been dealing with this loneliness my whole life, but it's worse now. I don't usually tell people about it. I know no one wants to hear, and people don't like to hear someone feel sorry for themselves, but sometimes it just really gets to me. Tonight is one of those nights. I woke too soon and have to work tonight and I can't get back to sleep. I'm tired of living but not quite ready to die. I guess I'll just get ready for work early.

I feel like an alien; I cannot connect with my fellow human kind - I don't get them, I don't get our world, I question everything, analyse everything but do not come up with answers. Animals help me a lot ... without them, I don't see the purpose of life.

The most alone I ever felt is when my Dr told me I was terminal with end stage kidney disease . I live in a small Appalachian town of under 2000 people, wheelchair bound and weak. Sometimes I look forward to death just so all this will end. I'm not suicidal, hell , time will take care of that. I used to be so much. I've lived in Argentina Peru , Miami beach in the dangerous 80s, was a roadie for the who, did standup and fronted a hardcore punk band for 20 years but I still feel like a failure who hasn't accomplished anything. Thank you for your words of solice. They have given me much to think about.

Thanks guys I know I'm not alone, sometimes i feel this overwhelming feeling/pit of lonliness but i realize what i need is solitude I need to find myself and who I really am and not who i want everyone else to see. We'll all get there eventually! We are not alone we are finding ourselves.

My girlfriend I had a 7 year relationship with broke up with me 4,5 months ago. After a week I started working out every day, I quited gaming and watching series cold turkey. I started meditation and going on long walks in the weekends. Focussed on my friendships, my work, but also the people I work with. On the one hand I still miss her, I truly love her. But I havent been this happy in a long time. Which is weird. I think its a shame it took this to make me realize that I had lost myself. I sometimes feel sorry that I couldnt show her this side of me when we were together. Either way Im glad it happened. Im open to one day meeting up again, but she would need to be ready as well. Of course I miss having her arround, the hugs, the long talks before going to sleep and just being together and share our day. I know I have hurt her and I dont blame her for breaking up with me. The last year I was depressed and had anxiety problems, which made me seek distraction in gaming and benchwatching series. How could I expect her to love me if I couldnt love myself and how could she deal with things I also couldnt deal with myself. There isnt anyone to blame and sadly I think there wouldnt have changed much if she hadnt dumped me. So she did the right thing I guess. Its still a shame. We had a good thing going, guess it was the situation we got in was to toxic and we both handled it poorly. Maybe some day we’ll meet again. I just hope she is happy and finds what she is searching for. I think I can be the one, but she needs to figure that out for herself and I need to give myself the opportunity to find happiness regardless of what happens. I cant wait for her, but the door is always open to talk it out.

Russel is on some next level shit now. Truth bombs everywhere, unreal how simple these concepts are and yet we still fall short in realizing them. Keep it up man you have found it.

I’ve been mentally discussing this with myself many times. I feel lonely lots of times and have been going through RU-vid a lot to understand how to fight it. Most answers say join a community, friends, etc. BUT I don’t want to depend on external sources as a remedy- I want to be able to sit down for hours, alone and not feel lonely. Friends definitely help, but in a way I feel like they are a distraction from the real issue at hand. Any discussion/ help is encouraged, thank you!

31 years old and my family pretty much left me. I’m on my own with two small children. I have one good friend of 10 years but I still feel incredibly lonely.

Day 28 sober and celebrated a birthday with a clear state of mind. Didn’t think that would happen.

Wow...loneliness is like saying 'when I'm on my own, I feel bad about myself'...just hit me like a thunderbolt!

I remember watching you in comedy movies when I was young and laughing my ass off and now ur contributing to society in an even better way. Thank you for everything Russell🙏

A few years ago I never thought I would be gaining spiritual assistance from Russell Brand. But now - I just have to say thanks Russell. Your thoughts are so well formed and knowledgeable and, of course, witty, even almost funny.

"Some hearts weren't meant to grow wings and fly to another to find nest. Some hearts are made to be kept within the ribbed cage it came, glowing as a bright candle in the curve, radiantly wholesome of oneself. "

I was sat here all alone and you buzzed in my pocket!! What a fortunate stroke of serendipity Russ 👍😂...

I listened to this video twice. Before, I felt like I was desperately searching for answers. During, I began to move and stretch.. dance and afterwards I understand, I feel calm. Thank you Russell. Beautiful, honest video. You're doing great work x

Social media has ruined everything, and Russell is right because solitude is a lovely thing but loneliness is A dangerous thing

Had no idea how alone and depressed we as humans can feel until I grew up, as a kid I was always excited to be alone and watch my cartoons and games! I wish it was as simple as that now since I’ve grown. The feeling of loneliness comes and won’t go so easily.

2:35 I think this is my problem - I expect everything to be amazing and have high standards for life based on unrealistic media

I’m 19 and I’ve been crying everyday for the whole week. Up until 17 I had so many friends and I was out everyday, but as I grew up and left school I realized that no one actually cared about me. No one wanted to keep contact, the people that I still talked to would go out with eachother but not invite me with them. I’d always have to ask them if they are out and they would always be condescending and say “oh you never come out with us”, but I never get an invite so I have no clue when they’re out. It’s always me having to start conversations and not people starting them with me. I would spend a day texting people that I talked to before just because I was desperate for an interaction. I really don’t know what to. I lost both my grandparents recently and I just feel that the small circle that actually appreciate me and love me is just getting smaller. I really have no hope for myself and I’m so lost. Loneliness if the worst feeling i have ever experienced, and will probably ever experience.

Russel this video comes to me at the perfect time of mixed feelings of loneliness and it brings incredible value along with actionable steps! You are a person that I deeply love and look up to (as a big brother and even a mentor). The moment in which you mentioned, "everyone around us is affected by the same mind-viruses that we all....", I got goosebumps. This reminded me of the experience of me locking eyes very briefly with someone I was "checking out" a lot on the public transport going back home (they looked like no one I'd ever seen before in person, or at least very unique), and then thinking about it a lot, maybe even regretting not having approached them. That was a few days ago, and yesterday I read this article about how this pandemic has changed/enhanced aspects of social interaction which also mentioned how some of the poems of history- like those that turn just a brushing of the wrist or a glance at the leg into a whole intense roller coaster of a love story- made sense to the author with regards to their extent of intensity and it resonated with me a lot. So when you mentioned that bit about everyone being on the same page with these negative emotions and experiences, something in me lit up and said, "When that person was looking a you back, they were probably thinking and feeling EXACTLY the same things as you!!!" And after that you taught or nudged towards HOW to actually improve and come out of that prosaicness and that feeling of being stuck in how your life looks right now. Man, that "give me a ring" part 😍😆 I love you man, I love all the versions of you that have been and that will be, at least based on how similar pit personalities are based on Myers Briggs test indicators. I hope you this message left you better than it found you and I hope to dm you on instagram because man our friendship has been one-sided coz of the 4th wall 😩 Ok I'm done fanboying CYA MAN I HOPE WE CROSS PATHS IN THIS SOMETIMES WIERD SOMETIMES LOVELY BUT CRAZY LIFE ❤❤❤

Get out in nature, get grounded, open up spiritually. These help with loneliness

I think loneliness often comes from not feeling safe to be authentic and playing a role in front of other people. Being around people and not fitting is way worse than being by yourself. Everyone needs to feel understood. For me music is one of my true sources of feeling of connection. Sometimes if feels like the artist is speaking through sour soul.

hi russell recently i went through a break up i've begun to feel worthless lonley and very sad your videos help me deal with those feelings. its good to know(not that i wish it upon anyone) that even someone as famous as you feel the same feelings that i've experienced, i liked it when you talked about the bad feelings trying to guide you to a better place and i think its very true from strife pain and loneliness love to oneself and self acceptness can be achived. for a long time now(about 3 months) i had very bad thoughts even about causing harm to myself, now i feel as though im on a journey of self discovery. Thank you Russell

Over the course of the past year I’ve fallen out with all of my friends due to them disregarding me for not joining in with them and doing stupid stuff. The first few months were incredibly hard for me and I often longed for a friendship with anyone. But the more I was left with my thoughts the more I’ve learned about myself. During this time I feel that I have developed more than I have in my entire life. But now that I have straightened myself out and got into my own routine I feel that lonely feeling flooding back. And I think the reason I am struggling to find friends is because I’m looking for the same relationship I shared with my childhood friends that I now never talk too.

When the self-esteem is repaired, loneliness leaves.

The superficial connections are strong in the millennials. It's much more satisfying to have 5 quality friends over 5000 social media "friends"

Thanks Russell. I felt the loneliest I ever have in my life tonight. I was able to look into your eyes longer than I have anyone's in months.

Going through a breakup and finding your videos helpful, albeit my ADHD kicks in and I have to watch it again to catch everything. Thank you 🙏

I lived 24 years with a narcissist and was lonely every day. I've since lived alone for 5 years and have never felt lonely.

My theory on depression is it's an inherited ptsd from our past lives that has transferred over. It's a deep pain in the soul that I recall feeling even as a kid when no kids reasonably should feel this sort of pain. Loneliness to me is one of the triggers of my depression. Realizing that even in a room full of people, I'm still alone.

I’ve been feeling depressed and I’m ashamed to admit been having thoughts of suicide. I know that I’ll get through this. I just finished school w/ no job, love interest broke my heart and my only friend like a sister turned her back on me. I’m not feeling my strongest but I know I’ll get though this. Know your not alone, even if you feel it. If you feel you are unloved, know that you are. I may not know you but I love you, and you will get through this just as I will get through this.

2020/2021 have made me realized how lonely I truly am and how many of my friendships have run their course and are at the end. I just watched your have you been ghosted video from a comment that was posted on another video about you saying "I have over calculated my significance to that person." I've longed for real, meaningful and deep friendships but often I am the only one willing to show up for the friendship. It makes me very sad that people don't value truthful and real friendships. I've been in the finding my truth phase this past year and a half.

getting lonely in here...been lonely since i was a teen..never fitted anywhere. I'm pushing 36...just got to accept some people are just lonely in this world. Some people attract people, some people don't. Its a cold cold world.

*Loneliness is not lack of company, loneliness is lack of purpose.* I would love it if Russel responds sometimes to his RU-vid followers. it feels lonely around here x) Back to work i guess.

This is very enlightening and uplifting! I am 48 years old and have come to valuing my sense of peace above all else. If that means being alone then I’m grateful for the peace that comes with it. Sometimes time away from others teaches us way more about the truth of a friendship or any relationship then being around them. Protect your peace first, opportunity to meet new people will present itself.

i'm 20 and just went back to college after being in online school for a year and a half i have absolutely 0 friends on campus and outside ive always felt lonely but this is probably the loneliest ive ever felt

I love it! I'm at my loneliness NOW and I'm pushing 30. I know why though!. Choosing an empathic way of life really opened my eyes to how many are in LACK OF empathy and are only for self. I trust that the universe will provide me the RIGHT type of people in due time! One Love🌅🌍🌱🌴🌳🐛🌲🦋🐛

I am currently in such a state. 22 years goin on 23 this November. As much as I hate this feeling, or as he puts it, a 'phenomenon', he is right. Making peace with the fact that it's there, and it'll be a thing i will have to deal with throughout my life for years to come is essential. I try not to think about it too much, because it only makes me feel worse, and gets me paranoid about my past behavior (i.e. stepping on eggshells to keep others happy, thus limiting myself emotionally and spiritually). I'm holding on, and for anyone else going through this, you hold on too. You aren't as alone in this as you think.

Thank you Russell, that was a very enlightening look at a serious situation. You certainly helped me understand something I've been tolerating for too long. Your video's have been a tremendous help to me.

I watched you video in my lonliness. Ive been friends with my lonely side for a long time. The mediation did help, the prayer helped more. I always enjoy having a conversation with my lonely side to see why I'm so lonely. I feel like Ive reached the state where my lonliness doesn't even know why its lonely anymore. So we're just lonely together. My problems lie elsewhere but I feel blind to them. How do I break through this wall?

I've always felt a deep sense of loneliness since childhood.. I agree with you there Russell, being of service to others, uplifting others is what takes me out of this feeling. I'm not sure the void/loneliness will ever completely disappear but just being aware of it has helped & being okay with it, accepting it for what it is.. not fighting for that feeling to go, but rather being one with it.

"We are living unconsciously in an unreal environment". I felt this.

Your podcasts have helped give me strength and direction. Thank you. Please keep doing what you do so well. It’s appreciated and important.

I love the genuine yet comical delivery of your wisdom.

This the first time I have had a true understanding of loneliness. It has nothing to do with age or being alone. You can be surrounded by friends and still be lonely. Thank you Russel

Thank you ... my loneliness has been literally feeling like it’s eating away at my heart and mind . You helped ease some of that pain . I’m a 24 year old young man that lost his wife not to long ago.

im a lonely 29 year old man but i will change this, wont let this break me, i will document my journey of weight loss and fighting loneliness

After being divorced in 2019 this is the Darkest loneliest most depressing time of my life. Its impossible to make connections at 35 if you don't drink alcohol. The dating apps are worthless and full of trash. People say that my children should be all I need and I wish it was but I am drowning. Been treading for almost two years and in getting so tired. I was adopted so it's like I came into this world rejected and continuously have been for so many years. Chewed up and spit out

The greatest thing I ever saw was in NY, 20 people brought 2 chairs and just asked if people needed to talk