>I much prefer loneliness to enduring that kind of stuff.

That comment made me chuckle, no offense.

You're right, one big issue with loneliness is "what are the alternatives to it?" and sometimes they're even worse, even though you may not notice it at first.

Hanging out with people just to avoid being alone could lead you to engage in some vicious relationships who may end up being worse for you and your mental health.