Humans have an inborn or innate desire to connect with others, we thrive on connectedness, however, some often find themselves not only dealing with being alone; but with feelings of loneliness even when surrounded by people.
Loneliness is the state of distress or discomfort that is experienced when there is lack of fulfilment of desire for social connection, or the value of the state of the actual social connection experience may be failing to meet one’s expectations e.g:
✨Have you ever been with people and still felt alone and lonely?
- one can be alone and not feel lonely, whilst another could be surrounded by people and feel lonely!
✨ Have you ever felt so lonely in your marriage or relationship ?
Often single people think, If I can find myself a partner I will no longer feel lonely only to be disappointed when they are not alone, but still feeling lonely 😢
Reflections:
# Establish what’s creating that inner void and address it.
# How did it get formed?
# Understand that getting into a relationship expecting the other person to fill the void may lead to you continuing to experience a deep and pervasive loneliness.
# Some research studies have revealed that loneliness may be a trigger to mental and physical health challenges with possible long-term health problems; emotional diseases (Colbert,2003, Carnegie,1948).
#Similarly, feeling lack of social connectedness can be a painful experience for some people which may lead to depression, suicide ideation or the actual act of suicide.
#There are various ways commonly used determine the level of loneliness; to measure the severity of loneliness. In such cases individuals have to respond to question items that targets their range of feelings or deficits of connection, and such include for example the frequency in:
But in the era we live in with hectic lifestyles and everyone focused on their issues, chasing dreams and living more online, some people have drifted apart or become physically, emotionally and socially unavailable hence creating loneliness for many.
There are potential health consequences for people who frequently feel feel lonely , who lack a social support system and social connections, humans beings are social animals by nature, therefore, everyone needs increased social connection at personal, family or community level to attain a sense of belonging , in order to not feel lonely.
Though some people may say; I do have friends and family but I still feel so lonely?
The question is:
- What’s the quality of those relationships?
- What could be missing which you desire or wish need To improve or that has to change?
- How authentic are those relationships?
- What is it that they are not meeting in you?
- Are you free to be yourself in those relationships?
- How comfortable are you in those social connections?
Remember# It’s not the quantity of connections you have, but the quality, having many friends can never be fulfilling if relationships are not authentic. Similarly, surrounding yourself with people who never see any good in you, or who always leave your energy depleted or those that you
"Everyday is a New Beginning "
