Loneliness is a universal human emotion that is both complex and unique to each individual and does not have a single cause. Many a times, we describe or define loneliness  as a state of solitude or being alone. Loneliness is actually a state of mind. It is experienced by people of all ages. Loneliness, according to many experts, is not necessarily about being alone. Instead, if you feel alone and isolated, then that is how loneliness plays into your state of mind.

Few of the major factors to loneliness include: 

• Situational variables such as, physical isolation, moving to a new location, social isolation, poor social skills, divorce,  death of someone significant, changing jobs and feeling isolated from your co-workers. All these experiences in a person’s life can lead to feelings of loneliness.
• Physical variables such as, starting at university, moving to a new area or country without family, friends or community networks. Alcohol and drug misuse, anti-social behavior, increased stress levels or poor decision making, going through a relationship breakup.
• Psychological variables such as, introversion, depression or Alzheimer’s disease progression, losing old friendship groups and starting to develop new ones can be challenging. It causes people to withdraw socially, which can lead to isolation.
• Internal variables such as, low self-esteem. People who lack confidence in themselves often believe that they are unworthy of the attention or regard of other people, which can lead to isolation and chronic loneliness.
• Long–term loneliness and disconnection from others can have a serious impact on people’s lives. Physical, psychological and social changes, can be both exciting and challenging although these transitions are a normal part of life.

Loneliness is a state of mind linked to wanting human contact. People can be alone and not feel lonely, or they can have contact with people and still experience feelings of isolation.

• We all may have probably experienced-That it’s possible to feel lonely if you are in a crowded room and surrounded by others. This is because loneliness is caused not by being alone, but by being without a relationship.
• Inability to connect with others on a deeper, more intimate level, engaging with family friends and life is at a very surface level.
• Feel empty, alone and unwanted- People who are lonely often crave human contact, but their state of mind makes it more difficult to form connections with other people. You feel you can find no "close" or "best" friends, who truly “gets” or “understands” you.
• Negative feelings of self-doubt and self-worth- Diet is higher in fat, sleep is less efficient and report more daytime fatigue. Loneliness also leads to premature ageing. People dealing with loneliness can find it exhausting, drained and burn out, when trying to engage and be social with others. It can also lead to other issues like sleep problems, a weakened immune system, poor diet and more.

Loneliness can be normal and is only an indicator of underlying disease. Short-term bouts of loneliness can occur to many people at some point in their lives. These types of feelings are typically brief and not chronic. However, when feelings of loneliness and isolation worsen and continue long-term, becoming all-consuming and interfering with daily living, we need to seek help. Mindscape experts recommend therapies such as behavioral cognitive therapy that are likely to lead to the best possible outcome, to help tackle the root cause of these feelings of emotional loneliness.

Counselling helps you to understand:

• About self and pattern of interaction: Why you feel lonely, how your background and experiences have contributed to behaviors that make things worse, how we can develop a new and more useful, set of behaviors.
• Better social interactions: Loneliness isn’t limited to feelings of social isolation and alienation from others. It is often tied to ongoing and deeply rooted negative beliefs about you.
• Improved mental health and emotional well-being: To engage with other people in a positive, healthy way which, can help boost self-esteem and provide a safe and satisfying way to connect with others.
• Help you feel connected with someone and supported: Flexible approaches to get to the bottom of the problem. Helps you to cope better with life changes and stressful events.
• Improve your overall quality of life: That it’s ‘OK’ to feel this way, it’s not your fault, that it is something that can be changed and support is there. It improves and protects your physical health.