If we are going to get 'real-deep' into 'loneliness'
[as opposed-to 'being-alone']
We ought FIRST, to really understand the 'state' / 'condition' / 'affliction'
Being individuals, we are, all of us the sum of
# The genes we were 'produced-with'
# Our environment, experience and our understanding [of these things]
We, are conditioned, by the above, to find our way [comfortably]
within society, [at-large]
and also, our perception, of the comfort [or, otherwise] of, 'self'
When we fulfill our own expectations, amongst-others
we learn to achieve an acceptable 'comfort level' and our 'self' is 'content'
Loneliness is an unpleasant feeling in which a person experiences
a strong sense of emptiness and solitude resulting from
inadequate levels of social relationships.
However, it is a subjective experience.
[1] Loneliness has also been described as social pain -
a psychological mechanism meant to alert an individual
of undesired isolation and motivate her/him to seek social connections.[2]
We do, usually, react / respond-to, such a realisation
with a mild depression. ie: a discomfort, that doesn't reconcile [by itself]
and some, treat this perceived 'state', [isolation] with some anxiety [?]
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state
characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components.
[2] The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble';
in either the absence or presence of psychological stress, anxiety can create
feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness and dread.
[3] Anxiety is considered to be a normal reaction to a stressor.
It may help a person to deal with a difficult situation by prompting one to cope with it.
When anxiety becomes excessive, it may fall under the classification of an anxiety disorder.
[4] The intensity and reasoning behind anxiety determines
whether it is considered a normal or abnormal reaction.[5]
I guess, I should again make the distinction here, between 'alone' and 'lonely'
A Free-Climber, [for example] is quite used-to being 'alone'
He/ she, has a passion, to climb without ropes and companions
and is for the sake of this example,
independant of others [solo]
A Husband / Wife, on the other hand... has adapted
to 'sharing' their life, their dreams and hopes
and almost everything they did was shared together with their spouse...
The survivor, [Widower/Widow] is now '
alone'...
and without the shared lifestyle, of the past
Where he / she, would once 'consult' the other, on shared matters
there is now an empty seat, with which to consult and there may well be
one mind trying, to think for two, and so, still considering the likely 'opinion'
of their deceased 'other half' > and
loneliness is 'discovered' /'felt'
So, we can define
ALONE
as being a singular state, that is tolerated short term
a 'state', that might be chosen and not necessarily stressful
and
LONELY
as being a solitary state, that is stressful to 'self'
for, the unwillingness of, the 'self'
to suffer/ experience such an imposed condition...
iow: the sufferer, is prompted
to seek 'company' ~to fill the void and make the 'self' comfortable
dave
