Do you think when you get older it's harder to make friends?

Question

It seems harder for me to make friends now than it did when I was younger. What do you think causes this change? Do you find yourself trying different things to make friends than you did when you were younger?

Answer 1

I agree... I think back when I was in school and sports it was easier because there were so many other kids my age available to meet on any given day.
As we get older and travel off in different directions our social circle shrinks. For instance in my 8 hours at work I have 2 other females?? Where in school there were 120? After school we would run from activity to activity dances, plays etc ... now after school I run my kids to those things, I find myself in the car most of the time... not a very good way to socialize...LOL

Answer 2

You are absolutely right.I have the same feeling.I have left my country and I have lost all of my good friends.I wanna make new friends in new place but it seems very difficult. I don't know is it me or them? but I am sure there are some other perspectives I have right now which I have never thought about it before when I was 17 years old. Maybe now I have much more attention for media , news, movies. So I can not trust people easily as I did before or I am searching for a best match which is hard to find because people are different. If there is my match some where there , I could not easily find her.I really want to have good girl friends , I mean from the same sex. I would love to talk to them and share idea`s . go shopping and do a lot of stuff.I will not give up until I find that person. I wish the same for you.

Answer 3

It depends how you define friends or friendships! My definition of a friend is someone I can trust, talk to about everything without being judged, that this friend is here for me in good and bad times no matter where I am and no matter what time it is! (Same applies to me also). Defenately because through experience you get more sceptical and more demanding. For example, when you were younger you probably did not put an emphasis on having serious talks with friends. You probably wanted to have fun and go out. Go out buddies are easy to find but it is very hard to find friends you can share your thoughts and opinion with (since your trust decreases in time, due to experience) and trust. I defenately have a harder time to find real friends. It is perfectly normal that you feel that way! Dont worry and with time you will realise that you have made friends with someone! The older you get the longer it takes to make friends and to realize that the person is a friend.

Answer 4

well think from different prospects, making friends is much more easier when you get older. so what's the problem you ask?
it's not only yours, most of he people think like you, so what's the obstacle, you see, there are less criminals or bad people in older ages but it's much more harder to trust ...
when you get old, it's natural that you become a little bit pessimist
and also you lose some courage
so that's all and can be solved so easily just by working on yourself
and you'll get results soon, cause older people as yourself consider, accept friendship sooner
try and have fun
;)

Answer 5

I have found it harder because my social situations are different. (im only in my 30s) When in school I didn't have the responsibilities I do now, I could go out whenever I wanted to. When I started working I had to have the energy for work and staying out all night wasn't an option if I had to get up in the morning. As a parent there are a lot of people who don't want your children to come with you so unless you have no problem leaving them behind people tend not to ask you to go hang out as often.
What I have found helps is trying to find people that enjoy doing things with my husband and I that is either at our home so the kids have us if they need us, or do things that include the children.

Answer 6

No it is just that the places we used to make Friends are different then what they are as an adult. I have found I make Friends at Place's like star bucks. See if you went to a park to try and make a Friend you may end up in jail. Stick to the coffee joints. Don't be afraid to say hi how are you? After a while of attending your place of choice, faces will look familiar and there you are Friend. I wish you the best of luck.

Answer 7

It is harder for me too. And I noticed that the older I am, I become more and more lonely. I really don't know why, but I think it is because the people that I met have hurt my feelings so bad, that I don't want to start again with some new friends.

Answer 8

do you mean making friends or meeting new people? if your a friendly person you'll always be meeting new people. but making true friends is harder when we are older because we tend to become more jaded, judgemental, and self-involved as we get older. this is natural, we have families, careers, bills, and commitments, that take alot of our time now, that used to be spent hanging with our friends before we had all this other stuff. sadly, the carefree days of youth pass on.

Answer 9

Yes and no. It is easier to make friends on a shallow level and harder to make long lasting friends. This is because as one gets older, one becomes more set in their ways and beliefs. That means that one is less tolerable with those who see things differently.

If you're a naturally laid back person, it shouldn't be difficult though. People around you however, will become more judgmental as they become older.

Answer 10

i think it is def. harder to make friends while you are in ur teens. When ur little it doesnt matter who u are what u wear or what u look like. My little brother just walks up to people in his day care and starts talking to them and all of a sudden they are friends but me on the other hand have a lot more trouble becaue you start recognizing people for who they really are and the drama they cause at school or at activities. I also think its easier to make friends when you are an adult