Loneliness

Causes of loneliness

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What might be causing you to experience feelings of loneliness?

The reasons why people feel lonely are as diverse as the people who feel it.

Sometimes loneliness can be caused by something you might expect, like the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or moving to an unfamiliar place. But equally, loneliness can come from more subtle changes.

Growing apart from an old friend, a lack of confidence in starting conversations, or deciding that you’d like a romantic interest in your life, could all lead to just as powerful feelings of loneliness.

Below we’ve outlined some of the most common causes of loneliness, but remember:

  • Loneliness in response to significant events
  • Loneliness due to your current life situation or circumstance
  • Loneliness due to living with a mental health problem
  • Loneliness caused by our society and culture
  • Loneliness caused by our upbringing

In most cases, there are a combination of reasons you might be feeling lonely, rather than just one.

If you feel lonely, you are lonely. You don’t need to have a reason.

Remember, there are things you can do right now, and long term, as well as support services and tools and apps you can use to feel less lonely.

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