Why do we feel lonely? It’s a bigger question than it seems, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Sometimes loneliness shows up after something obvious—like a breakup, moving to a new place, losing a friend, or retiring from a job. Those big changes leave holes in our routines and relationships. But sometimes, it creeps in without a clear reason. One day, you just realize you don’t feel close to anyone anymore. That can be even harder to talk about, because… what do you even say?
Social media doesn’t always help either. You scroll through other people’s lives—vacations, dinner parties, cute kids—and wonder if you’re the only one feeling left out. (Spoiler: you’re not.) And let’s be honest, we’re living in a time where everything moves fast. People are busy. Deep conversations are rare. That’s enough to make anyone feel a little disconnected.
There’s also stuff from the past that can make loneliness stick around. If you didn’t grow up feeling emotionally safe, it might be harder to trust people now. Or maybe you’ve been hurt before, so you keep others at arm’s length—even when part of you really wants to reach out.
Whatever the cause, the point is: you’re not weird or weak for feeling this way. You’re just human.
