For those of you also struggling with loneliness, lack of intimacy and so on. How do you manage it and not let it get to you?

I'm a 26 year old straight guy, I've never been in a relationship nor even gotten to the stage of having my first kiss. Despite many attempts at asking women out, I've even gone on four first dates in my life.

But it has never gone anywhere, I've never seen real interest in me and I have no idea what it feels like to have real mutual interest. I have friends, hobbies, job, apartment, a therapist I see regularly, I work out and all that. But that which I don't have and never have had, love and intimacy, gets to me.

I know i shouldn't let it, but it gets to me bad. It makes me feel horrible, because I want it bad and I can't get it. I want to experience love, but I can't. And it's ruining everything else in my life. My motivation to do stuff for myself, my focus at work, my self esteem (which I've worked so hard on bringing up) and general just interest in life.

How do you all manage this desire? How do you not let the thoughts of hopelessness, thoughts about never getting to experience even something as simple as a kiss, not ruin your drive for life? How do you supress it so you can focus on everything else life has to offer.

Because I'm really struggling here and I feel so lost.