I don't really know how to start this off other than to say I feel so sad tonight for an event that hasn't even happened yet which makes me feel stupid, selfish & guilty when I stop to think that other people are dealing with actual problems & tragedies & illnesses and much more. But I can't stop how I feel and I have nowhere else to go with my thoughts.

I have had a rough time recently with anxiety and depression and as I was going through it I found a friend in a colleague. They've not had the easiest time either, far from it, and there have been many times when we have got each other through a situation, a day, a week, whatever. As time has passed we have become best friends and I love them as though they were family.

However life moves on and the time has come for my friend to move on and they have made the decision to look for a new job.

While I don't doubt that we will keep in touch and still see each other sometimes, the thought of not seeing them everyday, not being around them, not having their physical presence, fills me with such an overwhelming sadness I can't even begin to describe it. They have been, and are, such a huge part of my life, I can't imagine life without them.

What makes it harder almost is that at any other time had I felt like this about something I would have turned to them for comfort and support, I am going to miss them so much it physically hurts to even think about it.

I can't stop crying, I want to be on my own, I want to sleep but I know when I wake the feelings will still be there. At this point I don't even know if I'm going to be able to keep it together when I see them.

Please, is this normal? Has anyone else ever felt like this? How did you get through?