I cry every night I remember how alone I am

OP it sounds like your depression is symptomatic of the conditions around you and things you want to change.

That's actually something positive, it means there is something you can do about it when you have garnered the energy.

One thing that really helped me was writing. I wrote to get to know myself and my thoughts. I wanted to get better but I couldn't unless I knew myself first.

Once you are comfortable with yourself, you are ready to be a person in the world who will meet people to walk with without needing someone by your side. But trust me friend, it takes a ducking long time.

Then, when you're finally ready, take yourself and you to do what needs to be done.

Break it into little chunks, figure out what you want to change, can change, and what you can't.

Step one is to lay the groundwork, something simple like watching youtube videos, joining a toastmasters group, or reading self improvement books (the good ones at least are really good). Even making a plan is a step.

When you're ready, you can start to intentionally ask people out. Find something you're really excited our want to do. Not anyone else, you. Then find someone who might be interested. There's this great thing and I want you with me because I Like you!

You'd be surprised that most of us would like to go hang out with new people as long as we're comfortable with them. So that's your next step: figure out how to be a person in the world. Heather Havrilesky has an excellent column on that: https://www.thecut.com/author/heather-havrilesky/

/r/depression Thread