Hello Ash, and welcome to the site, thanks Petal and I agree with what you've said.
Before year 12 finishes, we promise other people to stay in touch with each other, unfortunately, this rarely happens, only because we may go to uni, meet other friends and/or move to another district, so contact is slowly lost.
When someone goes to therapy at the age of 12 to 17, their ideas, resolutions or purpose in life changes a great deal to how a person who has finished year 12 feels, so the therapy you had maybe totally different because how a 12 year old feels is totally different to an 18 year old and what they feel, you can legally now drive a car and maybe responsible for your own life now, so a great deal has changed.
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 who counsel people from 5 to 25 years old can be contacted by phone, webchat or online, these people are trained and the best part is they dress in casual clothes, it's amazing how this can bind a relationship between two people.
Your previous friends all have different lives now, which doesn't automatically make them feel as though they are enjoying life, on the outside it may seem that way, but deep down no one knows, so you can't compare yourself to what old friends are now doing, it has no basis.
Yes, I have old friends from school who are solicitors, builders etc who are supposedly living happy lives, but that I am unable to say or even speculate on, so I let them do what they want and I do what I want to do, but if need be, we can still be friends if that's what we want.
There are activities you can do by yourself ( golf, fishing, dog training etc) where you are able to meet other people, so friendships develop, but would like to hear back from you.
Best wishes.
Geoff.
