When the lockdown orders started rolling in there was a huge concern that loneliness was going to sweep the nation and its effects would be devastating. But it turns out, there is a huge difference between “loneliness” and “being alone.” Here’s what sets them apart:
- Loneliness.This is the one that you need to really worry about. According to Dr. Margaret Paul, loneliness is “the feeling you get when you want to connect with someone, such as your partner, and either there is no one to connect with, or your partner is unavailable for connection.” In other words, the desire to communicate is there, it’s just that no one is there to listen either physically or emotionally.
- Being Alone. Dr. Eglantine Julle-Daniere says that being alone is “the physical state of not being with another individual, might it be human or animal.” So the key difference is that you can be alone and not feel lonely. If you’re Zooming with friends, calling family, and connecting with coworkers while stuck in your place all by yourself, the feelings of loneliness might never even hit you.
And that’s the big takeaway.
Even if you’re living in a one-bedroom apartment with 10 people, it’s still entirely possible to feel lonely if there’s a lack of connection. But if you surround yourself with people you can talk to – even if it’s virtual – you can avoid feeling lonesome.
Source:LifeHacker