What are some examples of loneliness?

Answer 1

Loneliness is perhaps best described as feeling sad because you are alone. It is a natural feeling common to all communal creatures, including humans. It is a survival mechanism designed to encourage us to seek out our own kind, which means, basically, to seek the protection of our own kind.

Humans and, more rarely, other animals also seek the companionship of other creatures: we keep pets to provide companionship, which means to avoid loneliness.

Some people like to keep noise around them, a television, for example, even if they aren't watching a program. The sound of voices, music and other noises keeps them from feeling alone.

Feelings of loneliness can cause stress, which might be reflected in physical symptoms as well as in mood changes. This, again, when caused by loneliness, is instinct telling us to seek company.

There are different types of loneliness:

A person might feel lonely when they are at a party, or a meeting, and find themselves with nobody to talk to or just to be with. This example of loneliness is caused by being alone - without emotional support - in a social or other group situation.

Or a person might feel lonely because they are away from their friends and family. They could be visiting or living in a new place and have not yet made new friends. Even when they do make new friends, they could still feel lonely sometimes when they miss their family and old friends. This example of loneliness is also called homesickness.

Another example of loneliness could be the one perhaps most commonly thought of when the term is used: being by oneself, without any other people around. Some enjoy being alone, while to others it's something they avoid whenever possible.

There are those who when travelling would rather eat alone in their hotel room rather than eat alone in a restaurant. So, being alone without any other people around is preferable to them than being alone among other people who aren't connected with them.

Others might enjoy being alone in a restaurant, perhaps reading a book or newspaper, and taking in the sights and sounds of their surroundings.

So, some of us are likely to feel lonely more frequently than others, while some enjoy situations which others would avoid because of their fear of feeling lonely.

The type of loneliness felt as homesickness usually lessens in time, and a person can deliberately seek out or accept new acquaintanceships, which might well lead to friendships.

The fear of being lonely, or being alone, or being alone in group or social situations, or simply being seen to be alone (a type of self-consciousness, or embarrassment), can also be addressed if it really bothers the person with this fear; otherwise anyone can simply accept it and get on with enjoying parts of their lives which don't involve loneliness.

It is worth remembering that however self-conscious a person might feel at being alone in a group or social situation, it's unlikely anyone else present will be looking at them and thinking, 'Hey, that person doesn't have any friends!'. It's a lot more likely someone will eventually approach and make conversation, particularly if the person feeling alone appears relaxed and doesn't have a facial expression that discourages others from approaching.