I'd been isolated for so long that I was completely numb to it, the idea of being lonely didn't even register and I just assumed I was wired differently. Then about a year ago I stumbled into a group of wonderful people online and over time an uncomfortable feeling has started welling up in my chest whenever I'm not with them. Every second of my working day I'm wishing I could chat with them, play games together or just open steam and see their "online" status. Is this what loneliness is? I'm not used to this at all and it's starting to freak me out, I don't want to turn into a stalker or something but I feel so calm when I'm in their presence.

>>19
Social media was only beginning to kick off when I was in school but I felt the same way, people were really friendly with me during class but on the rare occasions anyone invited me somewhere it would always just be me and one or two others at their place, never something like a party or going to the movies. And of course the moment I dropped out for health reasons no one bothered reaching out because I wasn't on whatever social platform they were using. (This was before FB got big, I think bebo was the thing at the time but I'm not completely sure)