Loneliness

Dear My Perspective,

Is there a difference (other than the obvious) between being alone yet being lonely and being lonely yet not alone? Mostly I am talking about feelings, and emotions.

Signed,
Inquirer

Dear Inquirer,

Besides the obvious, yes there is a difference. Being lonely is often hard to deal with. But being lonely with other people around is far more emotionally painful than being alone yet being lonely. Being lonely, isn't an act of being alone, its a mindset, an inside feeling. When you are an extroverted person, being home alone, can be boring, you are lonely, you want to go somewhere, do something, you thrive off of having people around you.

But if you are introverted, or more specifically, socially awkward (not all introverts are), what makes being lonely painful, is being in a room full of people.

Some feel, that being by yourself and being lonely is the worst, because you have no one to talk to and are completely isolated.

But why its worse being lonely in a group full of people, is because you ARE in a room with people, but you are ignored, and feel left out.

Its painful watching people enjoy themselves, while you are left out or uninvited. So you sit there just watching. This makes you feel worse, because you long to do what everyone else is doing, but you can't because you are not apart of their group and are not wanted.

At least when you are alone when you are lonely, you do not have to see other people enjoying themselves.

Not being alone, just makes you feel worse, because it reminds you of what you are not getting to enjoy.