Loneliness vs. being alone
Do you think you are lonely? It isn’t just being physically alone, it’s a sense of isolation even when surrounded by people. Loneliness can come from unmet emotional needs, a lack of relationships, feeling misunderstood. It can trigger sadness, anxiety or the feeling of longing for someone that feels missing. At it’s core, loneliness often carries a sense of being unseen or unheard, as if the connections that should bring warmth and understanding are out of reach. It can be sharp and sudden, like a pang of rejection, or slow and creeping, setting into the background of everyday life. It can come from loss, change or personal growth that leaves you feeling out of sync.
Being alone is not being around others. Unlike loneliness, which is an emotional sensation, being alone is physical reality…it’s just you. But the meaning of being alone changes depending on how you experience it. For some, being alone is peaceful. It’s a space to think, reset, to be with oneself without outside pressure. It can be freeing, giving a person the chance to truly listen to their own thoughts and emotions with time. For others, being alone can feel empty or uncomfortable. It might bring up thoughts they don’t wish to face, or remind them of a lack of meaningful connections. In that way, being alone can either be a source or a trigger.
Loneliness and being alone can be similar in ways unseen. They both involve a lack of immediate social connection. They share the feeling of solitude whether it be by choice or circumstance. In both cases, a person is left with their own thoughts. Both states can lead to self-reflection. Unfortunately, they can sometimes overlap. A person who is alone for long periods of time may eventually feel lonely, and someone who feels lonely may separate themselves from the world. The line between the two can blur, making it difficult to tell whether solitude is something someone enjoys or something they are suffering from. So are you really alone or are you just lonely?
