What does Loneliness feel like?

Mar 14, 2023
1 min read

Updated: May 22

Loneliness can feel like the world is against you and you're trapped in a dark, scary, and isolating place. It can make you feel weak, vulnerable, depressed and like no one is there to listen. It can make society feel cruel or like you can't do anything right.

We can all experience feelings of loneliness from time to time but we don't always recognise it in ourselves or others. Ignoring these feeling though can lead to harmful effects on our bodies and minds that only serve to perpetuate our feelings of disconnection.

Loneliness can lead to feelings of shame or that you must stay silent and keep your feelings a secret, adding to your sense of despair or disconnection.

Understanding and talking about how loneliness really feels - and knowing that others experience it too - can help us to know that we're not alone; that these feelings are common and part of the human experience and there's nothing to be ashamed of. It can help us begin to find ways to create the sense of connection and belonging that feels missing in our own lives.

Sepia image of two people's shadows with hands reaching towards each other with the word gather in background

We can also help to reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation that so many people experience by encouraging social interactions and creating opportunities for people to connect with each other in our communities.