Ridiculously lonely.

I'm at a stage in my life (20's) where most of my friends have graduated/got jobs/settled down. Quite a few are engaged, some have kids, some are married. Vast majority have their own place - even if it's rented.

I'm doing my Phd, still in the student life and single. I'm in my last year and since the last boyfriend I had left me emotionally destroyed (which set me back in my career), I decided that a relationship could not happen again until I finish uni completely. So I've put my life on hold for years. I haven't dated/been out with any one. Most of my friends have left our uni town.

So I find myself alone - no significant other and barely any friends. I don't really have family apart from my parents who live miles and miles away.

I just feel very alone. Societies etc don't work at my age - everyone is 18-21 and there's not much in common. I don't have the time or money to socialize much due to work and uni commitments.

I feel like life won't start until I've finished uni and get into my field and by the time I do I'll be very inexperienced in the dating game and have virtually no friends.

Looking around at my contemporaries who are working makes me feel completely abnormal. Someone at work who is pregnant asked me "how many kids do you want'' and I just came up with a socially appropriate light hearted answer but it killed me. I'm nowhere near that point in life - I haven't even been on a date in 3 years, never mind found a guy to settle with/get a house with/have kids with. I just don't even see that as a reality anymore. I honestly feel like I'm going to be alone my entire life and it's making me depressed.