Finding Strength in Solitude: A Muslim's Journey

Salam everyone, I've been struggling with loneliness lately. As a pre-med student, my days are packed with studying, work, and volunteering-I'm really pushing myself to get into competitive med schools, so it's non-stop grinding. Growing up, I didn't have many Muslim friends, and as I've grown closer to my deen, it's become tough to stay connected with old ones since their hangouts often involve things like drinking or gossiping that I've chosen to avoid. Now, I find myself with just a handful of friends-one close bestie and a few good ones-but we're all busy young adults, so it's low-key and not always enough. Sometimes it hits me that it's just me and Allah, and honestly, I'm getting used to it. I turn to Islam to cope, and it helps, but it's still hard. Alhamdulillah, I have a therapist and a supportive family, and I'm working daily to be my healthiest self. Islamically, I keep hearing to be patient and that this is building my strength, and I pray that's true. Balancing deen and dunya can feel overwhelming sometimes-like life just weighs you down. I'm keeping my head down, working hard to make my family proud and, inshallah, become a doctor one day, but the loneliness creeps in. I wonder how others in the Muslim community handle it, especially since I live in an area that isn't very Muslim-populated, making it tricky to connect. If you have any advice, I'd really appreciate it! Jazakallah khair.