Loneliness is something we all inevitably experience at some point in life but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck. Unfortunately, there are certain situations and circumstances that leave you more prone to experience this unpleasant emotion—here are just a few.
- Isolation Maybe it’s winter time and you’re all bundled up in the house. You haven’t gone out all weekend and your friends are wondering where you’ve been. You don’t realize it but you’re isolating yourself. Spending time with other people is so necessary for feeling connected to the world, even if you’re an introvert. Isolation can eat away at your happiness and well-being, leaving you feeling all alone.
- A stressful living situation The space you reside in is so important for sanity and feeling OK in the world. If anything is awry, it can deeply affect you. Roommates that suck can definitely lead to feels of loneliness. You go to your own house and feel disconnected from people, perhaps even tension. This is a really unfortunate situation to be in, especially when your own home is supposed to be comfortable.
- Social anxiety Being around people can be really wonderful but it can also can be anxiety-inducing. Especially for introverts, social anxiety can be a real deterrent from feeling connected. The irony is that you’re afraid of the one thing that may actually make it better: interacting with other humans. This is a tough one and often leaves people prone to loneliness.
- An addiction Whether it’s a substance or a behavioral addiction, being hooked can leave you vulnerable to loneliness. It’s a wildly isolating experience, leading to you feeling helpless and full of shame. As a result of this, you don’t reach out and your loneliness worsens. Especially if you aren’t willing to get help, an addiction will only drag you further and further underwater.
- Mental health struggles Dealing with mental health issues really takes a toll on you. These sort of struggles can drain you of energy and leave you at home. As a result of this, you’re likely to feel lonely. You also may feel like you’re not connecting to your friends, hobbies, or work. When it feels like this connection isn’t happening, it’s easy to feel very alone in the world.
- Too much social media time Social media can be great because it connects you to lots of other people and provides entertainment. Too much of it, on the other hand, causes damage. You’ll compare yourself to others, attempt to gain all your validation from them, and maybe do things like creep on exes. While it seems like social media should keep you feeling a part of, it actually often makes you feel separate from.
- A relationship falling apart It’s easy to pour yourself into a relationship. Everyone does it to some degree. When it ends, however, it hurts a lot. You may feel like your whole life is falling apart. The best thing to do is to fall into the arms of your support system, but sometimes people do the opposite. They hole up at home with the shades drawn and the pint of Ben & Jerry’s handy.
- Losing someone you love to death This is an obvious one, but it’s easy to lose faith in the world when someone dies. You start to question why things are the way they are and the world seems like a big scary place. Many people feel incredibly lonely after someone they love dies, even if it’s a pet. Sometimes especially if it’s a pet! Death has the power to suck the life out of you momentarily, perhaps for longer than you’d like.
- Making a mistake Messing up is a really crappy feeling, especially if you’re someone who overthinks. It’s easy to spiral out of control in your mind, going from “this was a mistake I made” to “I’m a horrible person who can never do anything right.” Overthinking after making a mistake can leave you wanting to be alone at home because you’re too ashamed to face other people.
- Being rejected It can be a serious blow to your ego. Whether it’s a lover kicking you to the curb or not getting hired for a potential job, it stings. It feels like your self-esteem is taking a hit and as a result, you feel lonely. Many people really take rejection to heart and create a story about how it makes them less lovable. This only fuels the isolation.
