Disconnected Friend Has Broken My Heart
I hope you can help me: here's insight to my current sad issue. I have a friend whom I have known for many years. I lost contact with them and then they came back into my life 10 years ago. Also they are very dear to me, they come and go in my life as they please. We have contact for two months and then they disappear for six months and then come back into my life like they have never gone away. When we are in contact we open up to each other and then when they hide away from me if feels like time and effort was lost . And now when I'm going through something so traumatic to myself they are nowhere to be seen. I haven't had contact with them for a month because this time round I am trying not to make the first contact to see if they shall and it pains me to see that they can get on without me in their lives and not even want to ask how I am yet they are always on social media. This is bringing me down severely and I feel so sad because I put so much effort into our friendship. Is it time for me to let go and if they contact me how should I approach this? Feeling very vulnerable and low. Thank you x
@ShootingStar4,
I'm sorry you're going through such a rough time right now! 
Actually, I've been feeling this way quite a bit recently. So many times, it feels like I'm the one putting more effort into the friendship. Perhaps you're a lot like me. I invest a ton of loyalty and compassion into my friendships, and often I feel that it's not appreciated. You sound like a very devoted friend. I think your friend has their priorities kind of mixed up here. 
At least they have reconnected with you sometimes, although I know it's really painful when you get close to someone and you want to maintain that, but the person pulls away. It sounds like the lack of support is making things really hard, and it's perfectly natural for you to feel like that. You put that so well when you said how painful it is to see people get on just fine without you. I think it's common to all people: we need to be needed!
Make some new friends if you can. Or develop stronger friendships with friends you already have. I know it can be painful to shift the focus from someone you really care about, but it really does help to broaden your support network!! I don't think you have to completely give up on this friend. You can wait for them to contact you, if you don't want to initiate. If they do, you might want to mention that you'd like to keep in touch more often and even suggest some ways. If that doesn't help, maybe you can explain to them how you're feeling about this. Things may improve, and they may not. Just because people may not value you as much as they should, that doesn't mean you're any less valuable!! But anyway, definitely work on other friendships too, because it will help distract you from the pain, and provide extra support when you need it most! 
This was a pretty long post...but I really hope I was able to help you out. Or at least make you feel better. I hope things get better very soon!
@neatBalloon7178 , thank you so much for your time and effort with replying, I didn't expect such a response. I will promise to invest in others and my feelings too; it just hurts as I guess we are all human. I thank you from the bottom of my heart to taking the time out for me. A heavy heart tonight I will read your post again tomorrow morning 🙏🏼
@ShootingStar4
I am so glad to be of any encouragement! Hope you feel better soon!