Loneliness hurts and it is difficult to escape such intense pain, specially because you feel you have noone and nothing to turn to. Before, i would turn to alchocol to numb myself, but thats not really a cure, at least for me.
Lately, when i feel lonely i gather my strenght to fill my day with many activities, try to do some new stuff, or i take a good book and lose myself in it...i just need to take a distance from myself, because otherway i would drown.
And of course in loneliness pets help, my cat can really bright my day : )