I’m 22 and for about 4 years now I’ve felt completely alone and without friends.

I first noticed my friends and I growing apart when I was in high school. It seemed as though I was never anyone’s first choice and they would only come to me when there was no one else. I thought that when I went to university I would finally make some friends, but here I am in my final year at university and still have no friends.

I joined a sports club about a year and a half ago in hopes of meeting people (and because I love the sport) and even joined another club outside of university. I have met some great people through this but not really any friends. Just a few days ago I was waiting for practice to start and the people I was standing with were talking among themselves. They said hi to me when I arrived but that was it. This has happened to me my whole life and it is really starting to upset me.

I am very shy and don’t really talk much, which doesn’t help my situation. On top of that, I have had people tell me that I’m “too quiet” and that I “need to change”. This makes me feel like there’s something wrong with me and that I’m a lesser person than others. I have tried to be less shy and more talkative but my mind goes blank and I never know what to say.

I’ll take any advice you have. I’m at the point now where I’m desperate for a friend.