We all have an innate need for companionship, and social interactions help us to feel our best.
While it's normal for everyone to feel lonely from time to time, loneliness is a frequent state of discomfort for some people. They may be surrounded by people all day or are in a long-term relationship, but they still feel empty inside.
Feeling lonely can be distressing and harm your mental and physical health. So if you're struggling with loneliness, it's important to explore what's going on in your life to make you feel this way and how to resolve it.
How to Know if You're Lonely
One sign that you may be experiencing loneliness is if you find yourself inauthentically connecting with others.
This could look like having shallow relationships, where you and the other person(s) only ever talk about surface-level topics and never really get to know each other. Inauthentic relationships can leave you feeling isolated and alone, despite the number of relationships you have or the frequency of interactions.
What You Can Do
When determining whether loneliness affects you, it's important to know the difference being loneliness and being alone. Loneliness is an emotion that arises when one feels a lack of companionship or social interaction.
Other common signs of loneliness include feeling isolated or disconnected from others, like no one understands you, and like you're always on the outside looking in.
If you're experiencing any of these feelings and thoughts, ask yourself if there is something you can do to change your situation. Sometimes, reaching out to others and connecting on a deeper level can make all the difference.
No matter what, many resources, like therapy, are available to help you if you are struggling with loneliness. Through therapy, a person can better understand their loneliness and learn how to overcome it. So don't hesitate to contact a mental health professional if you need support.
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