How many asexuals are living alone?

Asexualitic : Meet Asexuals Forums General discussion How many asexuals are living alone?

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  • #30711
    Rebekah
    Spectator

    I’m going to rent a room in someone’s house that I don’t know on craig’s list while I’m waiting for a low income apartment to become available. I’m getting a divorce and I am wondering how many people are living alone or far away from their families. I became asexual recently and I haven’t been asexual for very long and I’m wondering how asexual people are surviving without partners for so long or are they comfortable with being alone?

    #30713
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Family has always thought of me as a loner, or “lone wolf” (not to be confused with being “lonely”). Just like asexuality/sexuality, there seems to be similar personality traits with respect to a person’s comfort in existing by themselves versus desiring the comfort of others.

    I personally have always enjoyed my own company. Although I haven’t always realized this was a unique and desirable skill (society tends to indoctrinate us in many ways to think success in life is the product of being with people). And there seem to be a good number of people who go out of their way to avoid being alone with their own thoughts.

    Before I came to this realization, and cultivated it as a personal strength, this unrecognized capacity (for me, at least) may well have contributed to the instability of my relationships (what ever energy I would receive from the interaction was less sustaining than the energy I’d resonate from within). Add to that the other instability from my (also unrealized) asexual tendencies, and it was a recipe for disaster.

    I’m not saying we’re all capable or comfortable in existing alone, but to recognize that such isn’t a failing, and possibly an asset, can start to make the difference. For if we don’t truly know and grow comfortable with ourselves, how can be be a productive/beneficial asset as a part of a relationship?

    For me, personally, a room in an unfamiliar person’s house wouldn’t be isolated enough for my tastes (unless it was closed off to allow ingress/egress apart from the living areas of the other inhabitants). I not only prefer to live alone in my own immediate living space, but to also not have close neighbors (as in just on the other side of a wall).

    To explore and come to some realization of asexuality may well in itself be isolating. If people with such tendencies represent a fractional part of the population, I would think acknowledging it would be simultaneously liberating (becoming more aware and more true to oneself) and isolating (how you are may be in conflict with how others view the world).

    I haven’t been in a relationship in 7 years, and in that time I feel I have come to know myself more and better than I ever have. Sure, there is the desire to want to share my life with others, to participate in the intimacy a relationship with others can create; but I no longer feel I need to be in a relationship in order to feel whole and complete (something that I did think years and years ago).

    In some ways, aside from unknowing but well-meaning individuals trying to hook up every single person in existence, being asexual seems to carry, somewhat, a veil of invisibility. If not advertised, and if not in a relationship, we don’t appear in violation of any of the traditional social norms (that unfortunately so many sexual orientations experience). We can say we are “discovering ourselves” or “just haven’t found someone yet”, and that doesn’t immediately send up any red flags. Yes, once we try to communicate this aspect of ourselves, problems or incompatibilities can crop up, and that’s a whole other thing.

    #30714
    Rebekah
    Spectator

    It Is hard to find someone nearby or even in the same country. Asexuals are so far apart from each other. There seems to be only a few in each area of the world and none in some areas of the world. It seems like asexuality is a strange phenomena with its rare occurances. I am wondering how this is just occuring in a small amount of people spread so distant apart from themselves. I have to say I dont like my asexuality but that’s because it makes me abnormal as in lacking what it takes to maintain a relationship with an intimate partner and puts me at risk of becoming extremely lonely and unloved. I’m not sure many asexuals can find love. It seems like asexuality is not a result of being in a natural emotional state. If being asexual means being alone for 99% of asexuals, then I don’t know how I’m going to manage to be happy with myself, being by myself when I need someone to love.

    • This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Rebekah.
    #30716
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    It was posted somewhere (AVEN? Or some other asexual-oriented resource) that asexuals may may up only around 1% of the population (perhaps this? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/magnetic-partners/201406/asexuality). If so, that would certainly make for a very sparse distribution. Lacking modern communication marvels like the internet, many would likely never encounter another of similar perspective or tendency.

    Similarly, if such a small cohort of the overall population, and one that there still is disagreement by many “experts” over whether or not it is some distinct and normal iteration of humanity (versus some “disorder”), even just spreading awareness of it as a valid orientation remains a challenge. When did you encounter the notion of “asexuality”? Has it been many years, and through standard educational channels? Or perhaps something more happenstance?

    Just think of how many people may fall under the spectrum of being asexual, yet by not being aware of it, go about their lives thinking they are abnormal and insufficient? Forced to always compare to some false gold standard. This likely contributes to the small numbers and the sparseness.

    You’re only abnormal or lacking if you are forcing yourself to adhere to some unrealistic expectation that you believe you can never overcome. Yes, there may be many more “sexual” people out there, and your ideal of a relationship may be biased from a more sexualized aspect (and yes, by our very numbers we are few and far between in comparison, we are small in supply and high in demand).

    There are likely many individuals, of all sorts of orientations, that never find love. By the numbers, expecting to find adequate candidates for partners in our respective backyards (unless located in some massive urban center) is certainly to be a challenge, but that doesn’t mean by virtue of being asexual automatically relegates us to a life of lonely suffering. In some ways, it is how we respond to the opportunity of discovering and realizing we are asexual, to inform and drive improvements to the self, so that we can more confidently be ourselves and be successful in a world where we may be a statistical minority.

    How to cope? Some may continue to pursue more sexual (yet understanding) partners, arriving at some sort of compromise.

    Some certainly go it alone.

    But to be mindful of the possibility- To keep open the chance of hope: these are essential. We have a growing awareness in society, and more and more people are discovering these resources. Yes, it may be slow going, and may not grant us any guarantee of finding that love so desired, at least in a predictably short span of time, but if we don’t keep trying, keep exploring, and keep true to better understanding and being ourselves, would we not just continue to be miserable trying to live a life that apparently doesn’t work (no matter how much we’d like it to be otherwise)?

    We are all unique, we each have gifts. Sometimes the challenge is to discover just how special we are (to ourselves), so we can like a more fulfilled life. It may not jive with what we think we want now, but into the future as we craft a better understanding of who we are and what makes us tick.

    Personally, by your own words above.. to be going through what you are going through (divorce, alteration of living location and arrangement), that would be a significant challenge. Yet you are doing it, persevering. Is it ideal? No. Does it feel good? No. But you are taking steps, getting you from where you were to where you are going. I find that inspirational. You possess a strength I don’t know if I’d as easily be able to muster. Be mindful of that, and cherish it. For it is well worth being grateful about (and to attempt to even out the score of positives to negatives you may be experiencing).

    #30717
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I’m not comfortable with being alone because i gain energy from other people (with the exception of disrespectful people, clearly) and being alone costs me more energy. I’m used to being alone because i’m not socially competent, but being alone is a hard burden for me. It’s just not who i’m meant to be.
    Surving without partners, barely. At this time i have more important things to worry about like my transition but once that is done, i bet the lonelyness might feel stronger. Unless if given a chance by someone i like, of course. You never know.

    When alone i can operate at maximum 10-20% of my capabilities. These days doing it alone and deliberately choosing the introvert life is kind of hip, but it’s not my thing. Saying i need others seems to be a taboo. I always get speeches that i should live for myself alone. But that’s just not how i roll.

    I survive, but i only survive, i don’t really live.

    #30718
    Veee
    Spectator

    Living alone is not the safest of living arrangements…what if something happened to you and nobody was there to lend a hand?

    #30719
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Well, I am living alone. But I find it a bit strange you assume asexual people are always without a partner? I feel comfortable on my own most of the time, but that has nothing to do with my sexual orientation. I lived with partners and I really missed individual space then. It exhausted me although I loved them. In my next relationship I won’t move in with my partner, I guess that’s the best for both of us 😀
    Vanessa wrote it costs her energy to be alone, but I am an introvert, so I need to be alone to gain energy again.

    #30722
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I got all respect for introverts. It’s an alien world, but i don’t mind having some alien friends.

    #30728
    Sandra
    Participant

    I live on own in a flat in the middle of a house. It is nice to know for safety that there are other people in the house, even though we don’t often speak.

    I enjoy living on my own,more than with anyone, but still desire a super romantic relationship, but living separately.

    You need to be prepared to travel or move, or find an asexual who will, in order to get a relationship.

    Sandra

    #30850
    Jason Tillman
    Spectator

    I live alone but I’m not lonely. Plenty of friends and not far from family. I have a cat too. I love my pussy.

    That said. I don’t want to spend rest of my life on my own. When you’re older you want someone to help with health, housework et cetera. So I’m always on the lookout for somebody to spend the rest of my life with.

    #30856
    Dan
    Participant

    Alone and very.

    #30857
    Spirit
    Spectator

    I’m working my way out of a bad marriage myself. I’m sorry you are going through that as well. Currently, I’m living alone in a friend’s spar condo while I put together the down payment for a house of my own. I’ve supplemented being alone at home with going out with friends.

    #30875
    Rafael
    Spectator

    I have been living alone for over a decade now that is since I have become an adult and left my parent’s home I have lived alone.

    I do not see any problem with it although I felt bad in the past because society brainwashes us to think that living alone is bad. In my impression living alone is great as you can do anything you want at home and nobody will judge you.

    #30876
    Dan
    Participant

    I have cohabited with women in various sexual (in my younger years) and nonsexual (in later years) relationships. While I appreciate my independence and relative freedom, the loneliness does weigh on me heavier and profoundly as each year passes, especially as I feel more deeply my mortality.

    #30878
    Marlinde
    Spectator

    i live on my own and it’s been 2 and a half years since i’vebeen in a relationship.
    I got a busy life as a student, so i barely even have time for a relationship haha

    #30911
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I wish I could live alone, living with humans is tough.

    #30931
    Viva
    Participant

    I agree with the fact that living alone is not the safest of living arrangements. On the other hand, living with a partner doesn´t give nobody the security to get a helping hand lended. It depends. What do you think about it?

    #30938
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I live alone (well, except for my two cats!), and I struggle with it, to be honest. I was married for many years and had kids at home, but now I’m divorced (my choice), and my kids are grown and busy with their own lives, living in different places. Other than my kids, I don’t really have any other close family. My parents have both passed. I have some good friends, but they’re usually busy with their own families and still have kids at home. We meet for coffee usually once a week, but that’s pretty much it. I’ve actually decided to move to another state where I know absolutely no one, but I need a fresh start, and there’s really nothing keeping me here.

    I’m an introvert, so it’s not as bad as it could be because I do need a fair amount of time alone. I just happen to also enjoy sharing experiences with others. I’m okay with BEING alone, for the most part, but I don’t really enjoy DOING things alone, and even being alone gets to be too much for me sometimes. I guess I’m what’s known as an ambivert. I find that I talk to myself a lot more than I used to! My cats often have this look on their furry little faces like, “Who in the world is she talking to??? She’s not talking to us, is she???” LOL So, I’m here to hopefully find a companion of some sort to spend the rest of my life with. I’m 53, so I’m at a bit of a disadvantage here. Yeah, 53, asexual, and fairly unusual — not the best of odds… I’m working on embracing the idea that I may be alone for the rest of my life, just in case! LOL

    #31012
    Glenda Breaux
    Participant

    I’m also an introvert and live alone. Luckily loneliness is a rare experience for me and easily remedied by casual interaction in and about the world. I’m much happier living alone than I have been living with others, even partners. But I’ve never had an asexual partner so that could be key to making living with a partner not feel like living in a battle zone.

    #31014
    Rob
    Participant

    I have lived alone since 2014 but have recently been fluctuating in my affection for that situation. On the one hand I love my alone time for the majority of the day, but on the other hand, similar to what was mentioned above, I miss being able to share experiences with important people in my life, whether that be a simple humourous joke or situation, or maybe an event or a trip away somewhere.

    My happiest memories are with other people, but I find myself just remembering them nostalgically rather than creating new memories as the important people in my life are not close by or have other priorities in their lives of which I am not one.

    I’m really struggling with this at the moment and it’s definitely a combination of being an asexual introvert, neither of which I can do anything to change.

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