Dear Dilemma Panel,

I always hear people talk about other people as “ride or die” or “they are always there for me” etc. But I don’t think it really exists. Every friend I’ve ever had has always put me last. I only matter if there is literally no one else around, and if someone more important sends them a message while we’re hanging out, they ignore me to reply to them. The “friends” I’ve had throughout my life have let their frustrations go out on me, and they have often belittled me, my hobbies or my work.

People always say “they’re not real friends, find someone else”, but I’ve given so many different people chances and they all turn out to be exactly the same. I don’t believe that “real friends” exist as I have burned myself so many times. I don’t know if it’s just me who’s bad at choosing them or if I’ve “just” been unlucky, or if true friendship just doesn’t exist. Feel like I’ve tried everything I can do, without success and find it difficult and lonely.

Does anyone feel the same, or has anyone felt this way and found out it’s not true, and if so, how do you deal with it?

Sincerely, Khalid the doubter