There is a difference between being alone, which is the act of being by oneself, versus feeling lonely.

The two words are used interchangeably, but they are not synonymous. A person can be alone and by themselves and feel completely content, or a person may be surrounded by others and still feel deep loneliness. Feelings of loneliness do not only affect people who are single but can affect a person in a long-term romantic relationship who finds themselves struggling with feeling seen, heard, valued, or understood by their partner.

Most people have experienced feeling lonely at one time or another in their lives. Anyone may experience changes in their lives that can affect their ability to adjust, which can increase their risk of feeling lonely. For example, relocating to a new city, starting a new job, or ending a romantic relationship may put a person at risk for feeling lonely as a result of these lifestyle changes.

However, chronic feelings of loneliness may be a red flag of deeper issues and should not be ignored. For example, a recent Harvard study suggests that as many as 36% of American adults reported feeling lonely post-pandemic, and as many as 16% of adults in a committed relationship report feeling chronic loneliness.

Because feelings of loneliness affect millions of people, it is important to recognize some of the more common reasons associated with feeling lonely, which include the following.

A fear of being alone often stems from childhood abandonment or rejection. A........

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