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Feeling Like I’m Reliving My College Loneliness at Work

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  • #448415
    MissLDuchess
    Participant

    I’m 26, and lately I’ve been feeling like I’m back in college all over again — not in the fun, nostalgic way, but in the “I can’t seem to catch a break with the people around me” way.

    At work, I’m dealing with an inconsiderate coworker who blasts loud music. I asked him to turn it down; he ignored me. Thankfully, my supervisor came over, saw (and heard) what was going on, and addressed it — a refreshing change from my college years, where my RA gaslighted me instead of helping when my freshman roommate constantly violated our agreement and kept me awake at night.

    That roommate’s behavior — plus a possessive fiancé who essentially stalked me online — made my first year unbearable. I ended up going home every weekend just to get some quiet and sleep, and eventually because I had no real support system on campus. My mom had insisted I request an all-girls dorm because she believed it would be cleaner, quieter, and full of “nice” kids. The only thing my roommate and I had in common was that request.

    Now, in my office, I’m the youngest by over a decade. I commute from Hastings to Brooklyn, which is exhausting, and I feel socially isolated. It reminds me of how, in college, finding common ground with those around me felt like pulling teeth.

    I’m an introvert with NVLD, so I can’t just “befriend everyone and their mother” the way my mom — a social butterfly — believes is best. She always pushed me toward acquaintances just so I wouldn’t be alone, but I value genuine, deep connections. I’ve tried apps like Bumble BFF, events like “Five Round” dinners, and activities like language classes and volunteering. Often, I end up surrounded by retirees or people who already have their cliques.

    I enjoy my own company — traveling alone, going to museums, even going to the movies — but I still long for more real friends and a life partner. Turning 27 in October scares me because despite my professional and academic accomplishments, I still feel like I’ve failed at finding “my people.”

    In college, people told me, “You’ll make friends eventually. The first people you meet aren’t necessarily the ones you’ll know forever.” But the right people never came along for me there. I’m still bitter about being placed in situations during such a vulnerable time where I felt stuck and unseen.

    I want to believe that “everything happens for a reason” and that even the rough patches serve a purpose. I just hope I can keep from becoming cynical and withdrawn again. I want to find that light at the end of the tunnel — and to feel, at last, that I’m surrounded by people who truly respect and understand me.

    #448419
    anita
    Participant

    Hi MissLDutchess,

    What you went through in college with your roommate, your RA, and your fiancé was deeply unfair. You were trying to build a life, and instead you were stuck in situations that made you feel unsafe and alone. That kind of experience doesn’t just fade — it leaves a mark.

    It makes sense that your current work situation brings some of those feelings back. I’m really glad your supervisor stepped in this time — that’s a small but important shift. You deserved that kind of support back then, too.

    You’ve worked hard to build a life that reflects who you are. You’ve tried apps, events, classes, volunteering — all while commuting and working in a space where you’re the youngest by far. That’s a lot of effort, and it shows how much you care about connection.

    It’s okay to feel tired. It’s okay to feel bitter about the past. And it’s okay to want something deeper than surface-level friendships. Wanting real connection doesn’t make you picky — it makes you honest.

    You haven’t failed. You’ve been navigating a world that doesn’t always make space for quiet, thoughtful people — especially those with NVLD, who often feel misunderstood. But your voice is clear, your heart is open, and you’re still reaching. That matters.

    I believe the right people will come — not because you force it, but because you keep showing up as yourself. And that self is worth knowing.

    Warmly, Anita

    #448422
    MissLDuchess
    Participant

    Hello Anita.

    Thanks for the support. She was the one who had a possessive fiancé who stalked me online not her which was the icing on the cake of this disastrous pairing.

    #448426
    anita
    Participant

    You are welcome, Miss L Dutchess. I hope things change for you.. deeper, genuine connections with others!

    🤍 Anita

    #448469
    Thomas168
    Participant

    It is hard to find friends who last a lifetime. Someone who you have a real connection with. College did not provide that and now out in the work field, it seems the same thing is happening again. All one can do is to be open to new friends. Develop interests and hobbies that one can share with like minds. Personally, I like Zen and Buddhism. If I wanted then I would go to meetings and meet like minded people. I like being by myself so I don’t go out. But, I have a wife so I don’t miss having someone to talk with. The internet is my friend and entertainment. But, that is me. My advice is to go to places where you will meet people who have the same interests as you.

    #448581
    Isabel
    Participant

    I’m so sorry you had this experience. If it’s any comfort, you are not alone. I felt very alienated and alone in college (and also had to contend with some unpleasant roommates). And I’ve met several others since then that have also had that experience. I found most of the people I went to college with to be immature and not particularly serious or thoughtful. It seemed more like an extension of high school for them with the freedom to be more hedonistic before they were forced to settle into a nine-to-five office job. It was more like they were checking a box or just getting the right piece of paper with the right university’s name on it rather than preparing for a career. For someone who is looking for deeper connections and is a more introspective, thoughtful person, such people are going to be hard to relate to. The office is similar to school in that you are put in a fish bowl with people you otherwise wouldn’t choose to be around. And unfortunately since it’s similar to school, some co-workers will choose to continue their immature school behaviors. I think you’re doing the right things to try to meet more like-minded people: they’re out there, but like diamonds in the rough, they can be hard to find sometimes. Taking classes and volunteering are good ideas, but in my experience, those can tend to attract older people versus people in their late 20s-early 30s. I can tell you what worked for me: have you tried MeetUp? There are still a few that can be cliquey, but generally the people showing up for meetups tend to be there because they want to make new friends. Especially in a big metro area, there are all kinds of MeetUps for different interests and hobbies — you could always try a few and see which one is a good fit. I made friends by joining a book club at a local bookstore. Book clubs tend to attract more thoughtful, introverted people, and I was happy to find a welcoming group who were eager to make friends with similar interests. I’m also a passionate movie fan and some people liked to tell me I was never going to meet anyone going to the movies by myself all the time, but they were wrong: I met my husband because he was the programmer for a film series I was attending regularly. Sometimes too, if you have places you frequent (bookstores, coffee shops, museums, movie theaters — especially if they’re retro houses playing older movies), you’ll see the same people over and over again who are also regulars and you can strike up a conversation. I struggle with shyness so that wasn’t always easy, but I decided I didn’t have anything to lose and could practice being more confident.
    It can be hard feeling like you’re walking on a path alone. I used to feel like everyone else must have read some manual that I just didn’t have access to. Not true: I think for a lot of people, it’s easier because they’re not really seeking deep, meaningful connections, but safety in a crowd. It may take patience and the courage to keep putting yourself out there, but the right people will come into your life — and they’ll be worth waiting for.

    #448711
    MissLDuchess
    Participant

    Hello Isabel. Thank you for the response. I recently got an official NVLD diagnosis on Friday which isn’t surprising but part of me is a bit resentful because I feel like if I’d known this 10-15 years ago I wouldn’t have struggled so much as a teen and in college but you live and learn. The report said I was a “bright, articulate, kind young woman” who “presents as friendly and polite and makes good eye contact”. That broke my heart to hear because I spent so much of my life believing I was a terrible freak of a person and deserved to be bullied and ostracized because I didn’t fit in easily. Since I’ve moved back to NY I’m trying to not make mistakes I made in college of going home on weekends to avoid putting myself out there since I quickly became jaded and resigned that I didn’t click with people in my immediate vicinity my freshman year. I attended a 222 event yesterday to put myself out there and exchanged Instas with a few people. I also have been reading a book called Platonic by Dr. Marisa Franco and some of the advice was to reach out to old friends or acquaintances which I did. It still feels a bit frustrating that I feel so lonely but if 1 year from today I’m happier and feel I have more of a support system I’ll be a happy camper.

    #448716
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Miss Duchess

    I’m sorry, I didn’t know that your diagnosis is a touchy subject for you. ❤️

    For what it’s worth, most of my favourite people are neurodivergent in some way. It doesn’t make you any less of a person. 😊

    I’m sorry that it has caused you some difficulties in life. I’m glad that you are finally getting some answers and I hope it helps you to figure things out. ❤️

    #448726
    Isabel
    Participant

    Hi Miss L Duchess

    “I recently got an official NVLD diagnosis on Friday which isn’t surprising but part of me is a bit resentful because I feel like if I’d known this 10-15 years ago I wouldn’t have struggled so much as a teen and in college but you live and learn.”

    I empathize with this so much. I can relate on some level: I was misdiagnosed and later received a correct diagnosis right before I turned 30. On the bright side, everything suddenly seemed so much clearer. On the down side, I was so angry at all the doctors/professionals who didn’t help over the years and all the people who had been dismissive or didn’t understand. I had that same feeling that a lot of struggles I went through could have been avoided.
    But also: they feel more immediate now, but your teens and twenties are only a small fraction of your life. They’re the prologue to the years you have ahead of you. And you’re taking struggles that you endured and learning from them to improve yourself and obtain the kind of life you want. That’s a big accomplishment.

    “The report said I was a “bright, articulate, kind young woman” who “presents as friendly and polite and makes good eye contact”.”
    I’m glad the report gave you a clear picture of yourself and how you present to the world. We haven’t met in person, but from writing with you here, you are NOT “a terrible freak of a person.” Anything but. You sound like a thoughtful person who’s had to contend with bullying and being misunderstood — especially trying to navigate with NVLD which hadn’t been properly diagnosed yet. You may have had trouble fitting in, but that doesn’t mean anything negative about you: all of my favorite people have had trouble fitting in. 😉 Maybe look at it this way: you DON’T fit in with rude, inconsiderate, bullying people. GOOD!! 😆 You DO fit in with other kind, authentic people. And it sounds like you’re doing what you need to do to make new connections with such people.

    I think there’s a popular notion that our twenties is where it all happens and that’s where we make all of your lifelong best friends. At least from what I’ve observed, teens and twenties are hard years for a lot of people, and often very lonely ones. There’s still plenty of fun and friendship to be had ahead of you.

    #448911
    anita
    Participant

    Hi Isabel:

    I just wanted to say—I read your reply to Miss L Dutchess five days ago- and it really stayed with me. You offered such grounded empathy and clarity, especially around the grief and anger that can come with a late diagnosis. You shared your experience with so much honesty and care, and it really stuck with me.

    I hope you know your message was powerful. You named things that often go unsaid, and you did it with so much care. I just wanted to appreciate that.

    Warmly, Anita

    #448934
    Isabel
    Participant

    Hi Anita:

    Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

    #448943
    anita
    Participant

    You are very welcome, Isabel ❤️

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