Loneliness is an emotional state in which a person experiences a powerful feeling of emptiness and isolation. Loneliness is more than just the feeling of wanting company or wanting to do something with another person. Loneliness is a feeling of being cut off, disconnected, and/or alienated from other people, so that it feels difficult or even impossible to have any form of meaningful human contact. Lonely people often feel empty or hollow inside. Feelings of separation or isolation from the world are common amongst those that are lonely.
Loneliness should not be equated with being alone. Everyone has times when they are alone for situational reasons, or because they have chosen to be alone. Being alone can be experienced as positive, pleasurable, and emotionally nourishing if it is under the individual's control. Solitude is the state of being alone and secluded from other people, and often implies having made a conscious choice to be alone.
Causes of loneliness
People can experience loneliness for many reasons. The first experience of loneliness for most people is the first time they are left to themselves as a baby. If none of the child's actions will lead to the presence of a carer, the experience of loneliness has been established. Moreover, this experience is then connected to a feeling of being helpless.
All kinds of life events seem to be related to loneliness. Loneliness is a very common response to divorce or the breakup of any important long-term relationship. Loneliness can be a response to a specific situation or event, such as illness of self or another, or the death or extended absence of a loved one. Loneliness may also occur after the birth of a child, after marriage or after any minor or major life event.
Loneliness can occur in marriages or similar close relationships where there is anger/resentment or a lack of "loving" communication.
Loneliness, perhaps ironically, occurs frequently in heavily populated cities; in these cities many people feel utterly alone and cut-off, even when surrounded by thousands or even millions of other people.
Loneliness can also result from low self-esteem or from being valued for shallow external reasons that have little or no connection to the person inside.
