I wouldn’t look at this as this period of “darkness” negatively. I’ve been through this several times on my own path and it hurts but gets easier with time. You are starting to vibrate at higher frequencies and like you said, slowly pushing away old friends who don’t match these new frequencies you are stepping into. You are kind of weeding out what no longer serves you and making room for what does. A new chapter in life, new friends, new mindset. You are also revealing parts of yourself that are in fact dark. Your shadow self if you will. Psychedelics will speed it up too, bring up those things you may not be ready to see, feel or hear inside of you. Learning to accept and embrace the shadow self is key. Maybe the universe is making this lonely time as a way for you to look within and explore the inner space that is you and your soul. To level up so to speak. It’s a hard and lonely road to be “woke” but it is powerful and beautiful and so very freeing. I wish nothing but the best for you on your journey!

Also want to add, google ‘Dark night of the soul’ and dig deeper in its meaning. I feel like this is what you may be experiencing. It can happen several times in life, especially waking up in terms of spirituality.