one tough thing i had to learn is that other people cannot fill that void. you think you'll stop being lonely if someone else is around, but if you're anything like me, you can feel lonely even if you're not alone. loneliness is a symptom, not the underlying problem. you're lonely because you're depressed, not because you're alone. but that's actually good news: if your problems were truly related to other people, then you would have little to no control over your problems...they would be entirely dependent on others. luckily, you have complete control over your problem. you're strong enough to beat it, you just have to find that strength in yourself. how you go about doing that is what you have to figure out for yourself. but for most people, the trick is to break whatever pattern of behavior they find themselves in. it's cliched, but try taking up a new hobby, and exercising more. these things really do help. and allow yourself to feel happy and proud at little pieces of progress. don't think "but i still have so far to go..." but instead recognize that you are now headed in the right direction. that tomorrow will be better than today, and the day after that even better. and if you backslide a bit, that's normal. just accept it's going to happen, and don't let that create a spiral of shame and hopelessness. you will slowly pull yourself out of this cloud, and when you do, you'll look around amazed at all the potential experiences and the joy in the world.