Feeling lonelier this year - seeking advice, assalamu alaikum
Assalamu alaikum. I'm in my second year at university, and recently I've been feeling really lonely, especially on weekends when everything gets quiet. I didn't feel this way last year, but now sometimes I get so sad I feel like crying. I have a guess why this is happening. Last year I had a close circle of friends I spent a lot of time with, but this year life took us in different directions. Nothing bad happened between us - we just drifted apart. I'm still in the dorm and they've moved elsewhere. I speak to my parents every day, but when the dorm empties on weekends I feel a deep emptiness. I wonder if anyone else has felt this. I do remember that Allah is with me, and that this world is ever-changing. I think turning to my faith is the best way to fight loneliness. Last year I read the Quran daily, surah by surah, and that brought me peace. This year I lost some of that routine, though I've started doing my nightly adhkar again, so at least the Quran is still part of my day. I also perform my five daily prayers, so it's not that I've stopped practicing, but the loneliness remains at times. Maybe stress from a demanding course and mental fatigue plays a role too. I hope I've explained myself okay. Has anyone experienced something similar? Any advice on how to feel less alone would be really appreciated. Jazakum Allahu khairan.