For the longest time during the pandemic, I felt so lonely being at home all the time and not being able to connect with new people. This year, my uni classes are in person again. I've made about 4 friends in the class who are all pretty cool and all... but something still feels like it's missing. It still feels like I have nothing.

I have a loving and supportive family who I can always talk to and do things with. But I still feel empty. I love them but they're family (and I realize this comes from a point of privilege of having a family like them).

The person I was closest and most comfortable with was my ex... continuing being friends with him, however, hurt like hell and it felt lonely not being in a relationship with him anymore. So I ended the friendship with him after long talks with my psychologist and deep introspection.

My depression seems to be getting worse and worse and at the centre of it all is this nagging feeling of loneliness. As much as I have people in my life there for me, it still feels like I have no one. Everything rings hollow. It feels so fleeting. I question how much of it is real.

I don't know what to do and escape this hole. Perhaps some of you may know the answer. I've felt like this for years on and off and I feel like I keep coming back to the same place.