Loneliness is a feeling of emptiness or hollowness inside of us. It often stems from our lack of connection with others. Even when we are surrounded by people in this world we can still feel emotionally isolated.
It is conceivable to be in a lifelong marriage, and still experience a deep, pervasive loneliness. You can be surrounded by friends, but still have difficult reaching out to them. It is possible to have family that is there for you, but doesn’t understand you whatsoever.
Feeling cut off from connections with others can have a serious damaging effect on one’s mental and physical health.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a lot of stigma attached to loneliness, so it is incredibly hard to admit that you are feeling lonely. You can talk to a therapist about how you’re feeling.
It is important to recognize that feeling lonely is not your fault and that therapists are trained to talk to you about how you are feeling and support you. Many people who come to therapy are struggling with connection issues and are looking to understand their isolation. You are not alone.
Carrie
