[PWRichard]

hey emily,

i too have suffered from depression and loneliness in the past. with depression i do feel it's important to feel those feelings and not ignore them. my sister would always try to get me to find another activity to do to forget about the pain when at the time all i really wanted to do was to feel everything fully.

once i really became one with the feeling and cried or yelled or cursed or screamed out for help, really experienced the sadness, injustice and pain then it would go away.

the other thing is, perhaps i should just steer away from romantic relationships altogether, as for romantic relationships one of my first boyfriends wrote a song that basically said i can't love you if you don't love yourself.

you must realize that you are a beautiful sensitive wonderful human being. but if you can't see that then perhaps no one else can.

another thing i noticed about romantic relationships is that when i was trying too hard to find love i never would. it was only when i decided that i was perfectly fine on my own thank you very much. i loved myself and my own company. i felt that i was beautiful and lovable and boom, when i wasn't even looking for love i found it.

perhaps you are looking for a romantic relationship because you feel you are not complete without one. (you are perfect and whole just as you are )

a romantic relationship should enhance your life not define it.

as for hugs , i'll bet their are a lot of people in your life who would love to give you a hug and are just waiting to be asked.

i know it's hard that all of us on the forum are so far away,and sometimes words are just words, but please know that we are all sending you virtual hugs all the time.

you will get through this. do not deny your feelings, be grateful for them , for if you did not have any feelings what would that mean.

always take care,

love megan