Recently I’ve been feeling lonely even when I’m with my friends. Recently some close friends of mine moved away and have been having a hard time making new friends with genuine connections. I feel I mostly just make surface level friendships.
Moving on to posting here. I’m part of two groups that have four people. There’s two of the same recurring people in these groups. Every time I get together with them I just feel lonely and never part of the conversation. No one makes eye contact with me unless I’m the only one at the table and as soon as the others come back no more eye contact. I started to notice this of late or when I try telling a story I don’t get any advice/response back but when someone else tells a story they’re all animated and excited.
Feeling torn because if I break from them I won’t have any friends in the area and I do get along one on one with at least two. But I also don’t know how to express my concerns without coming off pathetic or needy.