I’m really struggling to come to terms with my life. I phone my brother in hysterics last night and I’m on the phone to the GP again to chase up accessing therapy. I’ve been waiting years through the NHS.

My biggest lamentation in life so far is that I am 24 and it feels like I’ve missed the phase in life where I make friends and go to house parties, bars, clubs and social gatherings. I haven’t had that for years and if I did have friends it was a temporary thing.

I moved countries at 20 and it’s been four years of loneliness. I’ve done courses, I’ve worked many jobs but I have been alone. I’ve met people one on one through dating sites but my personal life is a giant visible red flag so despite whatever good I have going for me that scares people off. So naturally those have been very short and ended almost as quickly as they started. I’m finding myself lately becoming extremely hopeless; desperate and despairing and this particular aspect of my life is what is doing it for me.

All goals aside in life - all I have ever wanted was a group of friends who I see all the time and do fun things with and then maybe someone I can love. To date I don’t and have not had any of those things. How do I remain hopeful in this situation?