The Silent Struggle
Loneliness.... the silent killer
The feeling of being around people but still feeling alone and not being understood by people. It’s painful and horrible. It’s difficult for everyone who suffers from this struggle called loneliness.
What is Loneliness?
Imagine that you were having a class reunion party. All your friends from high school came to the event. Everyone was talking, playing games, laughing, and smiling. But for some reason, you don’t feel understood; instead, you feel… alone and sad. And this is not the first time this has happened to you either.
This is loneliness. The feeling of sadness because no one accompanies you. No friends…. no family….. well, that’s what you feel.
There’s a difference between being alone and being lonely.
Being alone:
✅ Physical state: You're by yourself, with no one else around.
✅ Neutral or positive: You might enjoy the solitude, reflect, relax, or focus.
✅ By choice: Many people choose to be alone to recharge or do something independently.
✅ Emotionally content: You don’t necessarily feel sad, just because you're alone
Example: Reading a book peacefully, sitting at your home alone.
Loneliness
❌ Emotional state: It's a feeling of being disconnected or isolated, even if you're surrounded by people.
❌ Negative: Usually involves sadness, emptiness, or longing for connection.
❌ Not always by choice: People often feel lonely when they want a connection but don’t have it.
❌ Mental disconnection: You may feel misunderstood, unwanted, or invisible.
Example: Sitting in a crowded room, but still feels unheard and not understood.
Why talk about it?
Loneliness is an issue that most people suffer from, and it’s painful. This issue affects all age groups, especially teenagers and elderly people, nowadays. This is something which should be spoken about. Being lonely can actually KILL you. Awareness about this should be spread. People should talk more about this and should get help. ❤️❤️
The SCIENCE behind Loneliness
The human brain is wired for survival and social connection. During ancient times, we couldn’t live without being in a group because it would help us survive and be prepared for another day. So when we start being disconnected- even a bit then our brain perceives this as a threat
The amygdala (your fear center) lights up.
The body releases cortisol, the stress hormone.
You begin to feel more alert, tense, and even anxious.
This reaction is meant to push you to reconnect, just like pain makes you protect an injury. But when it doesn't work… the brain starts changing how it sees the world.
This is one of the reasons why we face loneliness.
Causes of Loneliness
Loneliness has different causes, some of them are:
Social media and digital life.
Lack of real connection or deep friendships.
Bullying, exclusion, or loss.
Relocating, growing up, or changing environments.
Personal causes (e.g., low self-esteem, trust issues) and so many more causes exist.
How to cope with loneliness?
Loneliness has many ways in which it can the coped with. Some of them are:
Build meaningful connections, not just more followers (Social media is good, but it should affect us from building meaningful connections which will last forever)
Be open to vulnerability and talking to someone.
Journaling, creative outlets, and mindfulness (This can relax our mind a lot. This really helps ❤️)
Therapy, support groups, or helplines.
Reaching out to others who might be lonely too.
Conclusion
Always remember that you are not alone; people are there to help you. Loneliness is a silent struggle that has the power to kill you, too. Nowadays, with the rise of social media, people tend to become even more lonely, and this needs to change. Awareness about this should be sprea,d and help should be available for all. ❤️❤️