Overview

• Loneliness arises when the gap between desired and actual social connections becomes painful, distinguishing it from voluntary solitude.
• Prolonged loneliness can harm mental and physical health, contributing to depression, sleep disorders, and cardiovascular issues.
• Triggers include life events like separations, the death of loved ones, and prolonged isolation, with traits like shyness increasing vulnerability.
• Self-help strategies include reactivating old connections, focusing on shared traits with others, and practicing acts of kindness to foster belonging.
• Persistent or severe loneliness warrants professional support, such as counseling services, general practitioners, or psychotherapeutic care.