If you're anything like me, be careful about getting hurt! Because when you're lonely, it makes it that much more painful when you finally do find someone special and you lose them.

My girlfriend doesn't love me the way I love her; our relationship is a low priority in her life, while to me it means everything. As soon as something else comes up, we both know she'll be gone. I have this terrible feeling it's going to end painfully for me. Before I met her, I was lonely like you describe, and gave myself completely to her even when I knew she didn't reciprocate. I shouldn't have done that, because now I am completely dependent on her.

I guess the point is that if you do finally meet someone special, don't put all your hopes in them even if it's tempting. Otherwise you could end up even more lonely than you were before.