What Is Internal Loneliness And Why Does It Occur?

Internal loneliness stems from the feeling that a person is alone all of the time in every situation they find themselves in, whether with people or not.
Surreal Illustration Of A Man Standing Alone In A Large Cave
Q: What Is Internal Loneliness And Why Does It Occur?

A: Internal loneliness stems from the impression or inner notion that a person is alone all of the time, in every situation they find themselves in, even when they are surrounded by friends and loved ones.

This deeply personal type of loneliness originates from within and one doesn’t need to be physically alone in order to feel lonely.

This type of loneliness may be rooted in one’s personality and their inability to make meaningful connections with other people, but it can also be a reflection of their own internal struggle with low self-worth or low self-esteem.

Those who contend with having low self-esteem or low self-worth tend to experience more loneliness than their peers who do not have such personal conflicts.

Further, internal loneliness may be brought on due to a person’s own mental distress, overwhelming feelings of worthlessness or guilt, feeling out of control in situations, or having inadequate coping strategies.

When a person doesn’t like themselves or has low self-confidence, they may find it difficult to believe that others will enjoy being in their company.

This may cause a person to minimize the time they spend with other people altogether, or to experience feelings of loneliness when they do spend time around other people.

Internal loneliness can be rooted in a person’s childhood experience if they felt unloved, unwanted, or uncared for in the past, particularly if that treatment has left a lasting impact on their self-esteem and self-confidence.

Internal loneliness causes a person to feel alone regardless of the situation they’re in, making it difficult to create or sustain meaningful connections with other people.

When feelings of loneliness persist over a long period of time, otherwise known as chronic loneliness, a person is unable to quell their loneliness, which can have a negative impact on their overall health.

If you are struggling with loneliness right now, there are resources to find help.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of The Roots Of Loneliness Project, the first-of-its-kind resource that comprehensively explores the phenomenon of loneliness and over 100 types we might experience during our lives.