I'm lonely living on my own

It can take a while to get used to living by yourself. Living away from family and friends for the first time can be lonely, and not having a routine like college or work can make things worse.

You might just need to talk to someone about how you feel - family and friends might be able to pop round to see you more, or you could go to them. Helplines and support services can give you advice or just listen if you need to talk.

Try to get out of your flat every day, staying in by yourself all the time can get anyone down. Getting involved in study, work or volunteering are great opportunities to socialise and put some structure into your day. If you're not sure where to start, go and see a Connexions Personal Adviser - they'll be able to give you loads of information about the opportunities that are out there.

Living alone isn't for everyone. It might be that living in a flat by yourself isn't the best sort of accommodation for you. If you decide to leave, make sure you do it properly. If you just leave your flat and stop paying the bills and rent you will just be accumulating debts. If you are in council or housing association accommodation, speak to your named housing officer about how you're feeling and find out what options are available.

Floating support services can offer practical support and advice that will help you to get in touch with organisations that can help you.

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