Is it normal to feel lonely even when surrounded by people?

Absolutely normal, especially after a big move. I moved from Pakistan to the UK for uni and felt this for almost a year. What helped was joining a local community group — for me it was a cricket club. Look for meetup groups, volunteering, or sports clubs in your area. The connections come, but they take time to build depth.

This is incredibly common and there is nothing wrong with you. Research shows it takes about 50 hours of socialising to move from acquaintance to casual friend, and 200+ hours to become close friends. Give it time and be intentional about inviting people for coffee or walks outside of work.

This is an important mental health question. We recommend speaking with your GP for personalised advice. You can also contact NHS 111 (free, 24/7) for urgent guidance, or visit nhs.uk for trusted health information. Please note: this is general health information, not a substitute for professional medical advice.