The 7 types of loneliness everyone experiences
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but sometimes, absence just results in loneliness. Even when you’re surrounded by people (or even in a crowd) it’s still possible to feel lonely. It’s one of the biggest obstacles to happy, fulfilled life – but it doesn’t have to be.
According to Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, there are seven different types of loneliness, and the first step towards overcoming it is identifying what kind you’re experiencing.
1. “New-situation loneliness”
If you’ve recently moved to a new area, changed jobs or joined a new club and find yourself surrounded by strange new people and places, you may be feeling this type of loneliness.
2. “I’m-different loneliness”
You may be in a familiar place, surrounded by familiar faces, but you don’t feel as though you belong. It may be that others don’t share your beliefs, hobbies, opinions, leaving you feeling different, out-of-place and emotionally isolated.
3. “No-sweetheart loneliness”
Perhaps the most common type of loneliness, you may experience this when your romantic life is unfulfilled. It could be that you have lots of supportive friends and family members, but crave the intimacy and love that comes with a romantic partner. It’s even possible to feel this type of loneliness while in a relationship, albeit a troubled or unsatisfying one.
4. “No-animal loneliness”
Many people are content without the company of other people and instead crave the presence of animals. Living alone can be a liberating experience, but also an isolated one. For many, having a pet provides just enough company, and being without one can leave a gap in their lives.
5. “No-time-for-me loneliness”
Those experiencing this type of loneliness may be friendly with lots of people, but none seem to be willing to take that leap from acquaintances to friendship. This could also be true of people who used to be friends, but who have drifted away due to new circumstances or commitments.
6. “Untrustworthy-friends loneliness”
If you feel as though you can’t trust or confide in your friends, it can leave you feeling as though you have no friends at all. “An important element of friendship is the ability to confide and trust, so if that’s missing, you may feel lonely, even if you have fun with your friends,” Rubin says.
7. “Quiet-presence loneliness”
You might have an active, fun social life with your friends or family but one thing is missing – that one person you feel you can simply sit with, watching TV, perhaps not even in the same room, without feeling obligated to talk or like you have to be “on” all the time.
How many of these types of loneliness have you experienced? How did you overcome them? Let us know in the comment section below.