I'm starting to regret not building strong and lasting friendships.

I think I've been introverted ever since I was a kid. The only friends I had were people I was classmates with. I had close friends, but they didn’t last. I think the problem is within me. I only socialized at school. So, when I got home, I was by myself. I didn’t feel lonely—I wouldn’t initiate texts or calls. I was more of a “reply kind of guy.” You talk to me, and I talk to you.

This wasn’t an issue because we met almost every day at school. But at the end of the school year, it became a problem. Most of the time, we wouldn’t be classmates anymore, and communication would gradually stop because I didn’t keep in touch. I was okay being alone. This happened every year, but since I always made new friends at the start of each school year, I didn’t really notice it.

The problem now is that I’ve been out of school, I graduated half year ago, and I haven’t talked to anyone except my family. I thought I was okay with it, but recently, I realized that I don’t really have anyone to talk to. I guess I could talk to my college friends, but it feels awkward to start a conversation after not talking to them for so long.

I’ve started thinking about these things, and now, instead of feeling okay, I’ve started to feel lonely.