Why do i feel so lonely all the time?

[magical wishes]

I'm 16 years old and now in sixth form..

Growing up i've always had lot's of friends and was always one of the more popular ones in school. In primary school i had two best friends and a group of friends, who all seemed to want to be my friend. But then in secondary school i lost contact with my two best friends but made another group of friends which was okay for about 4 years, but then my friends started to make other friends and i've sort of just stopped speaking to loads of people. I was then left with my 3 best friends, but one left to go to a new school and the other two don't really like each other, so that left me with only one good friend at my school.

I'm a really shy person, and don't tend to make friends easily anymore as i got bullied for a couple of years and it ruined my confidence so much and made me really shy and uneasy around new people. I hate feeling like this, and i keep trying to feel better, but i always end up feeling the same

The problem is, i'm 16 and i feel like i should be out with my friends and at parties and stuff like that, stuff that most of the other people in my year are doing as well! I just feel so left out, i always see people's photos and status on facebook about them having a great time on a friday night, and then there's just me sat in my room all the time..

It's not that i don't want to go out, i just feel that no one likes me and no one ever invites me! My best friend doesn't go out with friends either, but then she's got her family which she's really close to.

Even my mum's started to notice, and it's really annoying me because she keeps making comments about me not doing anything and never going out, i don't want to tell her it's because i never get invited out. It also makes it worse that i don't really like that many people in my year, so it's not like i can make friends with many people.

There's a sixth form social going on in a couple of days, (basically a party for all the sixth formers in my town, giving us a chance to socialize) but i don't know whether to go because my best friend isn't and a couple of my old friends are, but they all have their new friends.

Even my mum goes out more than me and has more friends than me!

Is there anything i can do to stop myself feeling so lonely?

Thanks

[Candy]

Your "mum" will make sure you remain isolated by slandering others and subtly manipulating you, as she will do with your kids.

[Guest]

aww, dont feel lonely because everyone has felt left out or lonely before, i know i have and i can be shy sometimes too. I find it easier to contact old friends over the internet. Like for example message them saying "hey its been so long since we've talked." And do the same with others. Then you'll find the courage to say hi to them in school if your still shy try a nice smile in the hallway, and maybe they'll smile back. Compliment someone by saying, nice shoes, or i like your shirt. And they'll obviously say thank you. Unless they're mean and ignore you, those are the type of people you dont want to get involved with. You can also smille at a guy this way your not only making girl friends you can get guy friends as well. Many guys have told me that they like it when a girl shyly smiles at them but you have to make eye contact because if you dont then they wont know its for them. I know it can be nerve racking but ive done it to my crush and was so happy afterwards. This will help you socialize and maybe you can say to someone maybe we can hang out sometime. And your mom is just worried about you, you only live once(YOLO) and you got to enjoy it