Thank you for sharing your story. > either I think their issue is too mild for them to understand my experience or I feel like my issues aren't bad enough to c

Thank you for sharing your story. > either I think their issue is too mild for them to understand my experience or I feel like my issues aren't bad enough to count I totally resonate with this struggle. Not saying my problem is like yours, but being in this in-between place and not feeling like there's anyone out there that gets it. From my experience, the feeling of loneliness isn't something that can be "fixed" by simply finding a community, or even by having friends that care. Yes, feeling validated and heard are important, but there comes a time when we need more than that. That is where intimate relationships come in. The paradox here is that, it is exactly because of the closeness and vulnerability and potential hurt, that makes these relationships critical for healing. Many people we meet are not going to get us because of the depth of our wounds. But it's important to keep searching for someone who can meet us at our level. Intimate relationships, when done right, can be tremendously powerful in helping us heal from our wounds. They allow us to be fully ourselves, especially the ugliest parts that we couldn't face alone, and in providing that love, we start to learn to love ourselves and reconcile with our wounds. But as you said, it's hard to find these people. You never know how much to reveal, for fear of revealing too much and it's consequences. But I do believe that, you should keep your heart open and go into the world. If you hide too much, no one will see you for your depth, and you may miss out on opportunities that were right there in front of you. It's a balancing act, to be vulnerable enough for people to see the real you (or at least a hint of the real you, that there's something behind the curtain), and to maintain enough boundaries to not spill yourself over everyone you meet. If interested I'm always open to talk (email in profile). Relationships are hard and good advice is practically non-existent. Best of luck. :) EDIT: Basically, attachment problems can only be resolved by replacing it with healthy attachment. No amount of friendship or even therapy can heal that kind of wound. They help, certainly, but they won't heal it from the core.