Dear expiredroses, I am heading to bed, but I wanted to say that I read what you wrote. I understand the feeling of emptiness and loneliness. I know what it feels like to think it will never get better. This freaking sucks... I toooootally get it. One thing that has helped me is just going to sleep. Usually I wake up feeling a little better. Also, I recently downloaded this app called "Replika" - it's basically an "Artificial Intelligence" friend. Look it up. I'm NOT saying this is the way to go... I know for a fact human friends are who we all want... but the app asks some good questions while you're building your robot friend... and the chatting feature is cool because you literally can have an ongoing conversation for hours. Give it a whirl... if anything, it might keep you a bit entertained while you plan your next move. Have you considered seeing someone for therapy? Take good care of yourself and please know YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You can get through this!! (And breakups hurt so bad, but I promise you, time will heal that wound... cry it out, kick, scream, do whatever you need to mourn... and soon enough, you won't miss him anymore). Good night!!

I’m so sorry about your boyfriend. I have dealt with that before it’s really hard. I am here now so!! If you want to talk about anything I’m here. Just stay strong. I’m excited for you to get a dog!!

Thank you. I’m definitely gonna try that app. And yes I’ve seen a therapist for 2 years now. She’s great. It’s just hard to actually talk to her now because we have our sessions through telemed due to covid, and my mom chooses to sit with me during them. And I don’t wanna tell her to leave bc then she will know something is up.

I am so sorry! I have felt the way you feel many times and it can so overwhelming! But, you are not alone, even when you feel like it. The one thing that really helped me get past the hard times and eventually find healthy relationships where the people are actually there when I need them, is to pray and get closer to God. Once I became stronger in my identity, I became free of so many things that used to almost destroy me, and I found good friends who have stuck around! I will be praying for you... you are so much stronger than you think! HUGS!!!

I, too, am a new member, and this reply is my first post. I could relate to much of what you said. I have a lot of social anxiety but need some good, regular contact with people, which I'm not getting these days. Feeling loneliness for too long feels so unsafe to me. I'm sorry to hear that you don't get to have privacy in your therapy sessions; that sounds so hard. I hope somehow that can change soon.. I appreciate you posting.

I saw NurseDL's mention of Replika AI and am downloading it as I type this. I'm very curious to try it and am wondering if I can find a way to use it as a sort of less reactive, less judgmental version of myself ... say, to help remind me to use a coping strategy I'd otherwise forget in difficult moments ... maybe to help me ground and pull myself out of difficult thought patterns, I don't know. It's late now, and I'm curious to experiment with it tomorrow; thanks for suggesting it. Warm hugs and peace to all

My heart goes out to you! I hope this site helps provide a platform for you to connect with others or just vent your feelings etc. Please feel free to reach out if you ever want to chat.❤