Well, I sound pretty similar to you. I too prefer being at home rather than at parties. It's been such nice weather here recently and I see lots of other students on the campus sitting out on the grass in groups, laughing and listening to music, and it makes me wonder why it is i am sitting alone in my room, and with nobody i can go out with. i've made no friends this whole year of university. part of it is due to my depression and isolating yes, but my own shyness around people also contributes. it makes me wonder if i will make any friends at all during my four years at university... especially since my family expect me to have made friends. But then, I do have one good friend i know from home, so I am not completely alone.

Friends are a very important thing to have and i agree that without them, life can be very lonely. I think your depression is also complicating this, because of your negative view of yourself. Is anybody ever going to make friends with somebody who thinks themselves to be worthless and a waste of space? Maybe there will be that fragile link between acquaintances, but trying to be friends with somebody who more or less hates themselves makes it more difficult, in my opinion. Calling yourself a loser isn't going to endear you to somebody. There's a post here which points out some of the common mistakes in thinking. maybe that will help you catch what you're doing.

so... how do you go about making friends, especially when depressed? i think people often sense in a way that you're depressed, even if they may not know what they are aware of. making friends because you're desperate for friends isn't the way to go. you'd probably find somebody who is willing to exploit your need for friendship and end up hurting you. most people, when they first meet, have a sense of liking somebody, not liking them, or feeling neither way about them. if you like them anyway, that's a good start. i don't know if you're shy are not: if you are, it just makes it harder. but say you're in class and you're sitting next to somebody, just try to engage them in conversation about something related to the class, and see how it goes. i believe that making friends takes a while and doesn't happen in an hour. it's been suggested i believe, about you joining a club, but if you're like me, you'd be reluctant to do that, but it does work to socialize people.

Also, you say you're 17. are you going to college next year? if you are, that's another opportunity to makes friends. i know i haven't, but i haven't particularly tried at it either. when people begin college, they are willing to overlook desperate attempts to become friends, because most people feel the same way: insecure, lonely, and wanting somebody friendly by their side to get through the first weeks of school.

so, don't give up hope yet. in the workplace, at school, etc... there are chances to make friends. often it's unexpectedly that the friendship comes along, when you're not really looking for it. but it is possible to get them, and you're not a 'loser' or worthless for not having a friend by 17. at some point, you will find friends.