2 Kinds of Lonely Feelings and How to Cope With Them

AdobeStock 204617422 scaled e1576253647580

It was Thanksgiving, twenty-some years ago, and I was in graduate school. I decided not to go home to visit my family that year. Unexpectedly, my close friend and roommate told me that she was going to spend the holiday at her fiancé’s house in another city.

“Come with me,” she said. “It will be fun!” I knew that it would be, but somehow, I just didn’t feel like it. “No, I’ll be okay. I feel like being alone,” I assured her.

The morning of Thanksgiving, I got up in an empty house, and instantly knew I had made a mistake. The house felt empty, and so did I. I walked into the empty kitchen, and filled an empty cup with coffee. I sat down with an empty thud, and stared down at the empty table.

Thus began one of the loneliest days of my life.

Almost everyone feels lonely sometimes. It’s an unavoidable part of the human condition. Few are so surrounded by people at all times that they never feel left on their own.

But it does seem that loneliness is becoming a serious problem that threatens us all. New research from the American Psychological Association has established that far more people are living alone than was true in the past. New studies also show that loneliness can significantly harm your health, and decrease the length of your life.

This new research suggests that we should begin to pay more attention to the spread of “alone.” We need to take a closer look at “alone,” and “lonely.” What do they mean? How do they feel? Can we prevent ourselves from experiencing them?

First I would like to assert this one vital point: You needn’t be alone to be lonely. And you can easily be alone, and not be lonely. In other words, “lonely” is not a state, it’s a state of mind. Actually, it’s a feeling; a feeling that visits some folks more than others.

The 2 Kinds of Loneliness

1.  The kind you feel when you are actually alone. This “alone” is situational. It happens when you acutely recognize that there are no people with you. You may feel this when, for example, you weren’t invited to a party, or you just moved and haven’t made any friends yet, or are sitting at home alone on a Saturday night. This alone is painful, and difficult to tolerate. But it goes away when people arrive.

2. The kind that’s more lonesome than being alone. You can feel this kind of loneliness anywhere, even when surrounded by people. This “lonely” can happen when you are actually alone. But it can also happen when you are in the company of people who genuinely love and care about you. This type of loneliness can follow you wherever you go, and it often does. This loneliness can come at any time, under any circumstances. In fact, it may be so woven into the fabric of your life that you feel it all the time. It’s a feeling that can become a part of your everyday experience of yourself and your life.

This kind of loneliness comes from your childhood. It comes from growing up in a household where the deepest, most personal expression of who you are, your feelings, are ignored or squelched by your parents (Childhood Emotional Neglect, or CEN).

Having your feelings ignored or discouraged while your brain is developing sends you a deeply-felt, never-understood message:

You are alone in this world.

This is one of the powerful messages of Childhood Emotional Neglect. And it does not leave you simply because you grow up. It stays there, visiting at will, and often when you least expect it.

The Solution to the Loneliest Lonely

The amazing thing about CEN is that its solution is the exact opposite of its cause.

As a child, your emotions were squelched or regarded as “nothing.” So now, you must encourage your own feelings, and make a choice to treat them as “something.”

Your walled off emotions are keeping you walled off from the people who could be occupying your heart and mind right now. Your walled off feelings represent your true self, and they have waited for you long enough.

When you begin to pay attention to them, you are paying attention to your true self. When you listen to them and take them seriously, you are listening to yourself, and taking yourself seriously.

Once you become aware of your CEN, and how it’s affecting you, you can begin to use your emotions in a way that connects you to people. It can literally change the way you feel inside, and the way you live your life.

You can begin by putting words to all of the emotions that go into “lonely” for you. Here is what I felt that day, some 20-odd years ago:

Sad

Singular

Rejected

Empty

Lost

Isolated

Bereft

Unloved

Uncared-for

On my own

On the outside

I now understand that I wasn’t rejected by others that day. No. I was rejecting myself.  I now know that taking down the wall that your child self built is one of the most important things you can do in your life. And beginning to use your emotions to connect with others in a new way is the icing on the cake.

It does take work and perseverance, but it will change you for the better in significant ways. You can defeat your Type 2 Lonely. You can take this on, and win, I assure you. 

On your mark. Get set. Go.

Childhood Emotional Neglect is often invisible, so it can be hard to know if you have it. To learn more, Take The Childhood Emotional Neglect Test. It’s free.

To learn more about how to use your emotions in a new way to connect with the central people in your life, see my new book, Running on Empty No More: Transform Your Relationships With Your Partner, Your Parents & Your Children.

To learn more about Childhood Emotional Neglect, see my first book Running on Empty. 

A version of this article was initially posted on psychcentral.com. It has been reproduced here with the permission of psychcentral.

Jonice

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below
Barbara - March 23, 2024 Reply

I know I suffer from this but I have no significant other or children which are the relationships the book deals with. I live in a Continuting Care Community with 300 other people and still feel lonely although I am very active within the community. How do I start to build real relationships?

Victoria - May 7, 2021 Reply

I had a particularly terrible case of Chidlhood neglect, my mother was a very educated psychopath and my father had severe empathy deficits, he has aspergers but also forms of tyrannical personality disorder. I had no brothers or sisters, then my stepfather came along- very abusive. Severe depression all my life. I finally treated myself and i got better but it was via tons of research – i realized for me SSRIS and SNRIs weren’t working as CNE makes it so i am pathologically lonely…( Self love deficiency) so i now use Suboxone ( i once even lied and said i was a drug addict to get on it ) but now my doctor prescribes it and it’s a godsend..i don’t get high..i use low dosage 2mg – x2 a day and it just makes me feel i can weather life so much easier. it makes sense- an opiate – to heal the opiate system of the brain which to me was clearly damaged – as the other side i use cymbalta ( SSrI ) but it never worked enough. Now I am ok alone. but what a horrible life…i share this for those with worst case scenarios- because i did everything possible to get better – travelled the world, Post grad school, took up spiritual life, endless meditation, rosaries pilates ( instructor i became ) and vegan and therapy but nothing worked. they do know the brain is changed after CNE – damaged if you will.. I also have Add -and learning disabilities in math. nobody should suffer as I have, I do think medication for me was the solution but truly people need community and more support groups as this is one terrible affliction / burden to carry alone.

TAL - March 9, 2020 Reply

In the past I have stopped a relationship before they could stop it on me…. justifying that when they found out who I really am they would break up with me anyway. I have been so lonely. I am putting a huge amount of energy into meeting men for a hopeful life partner but I’m worried to death that I will look for reasons to break up before they can break up with me. Aughhh. How do I not be my worst enemy?

Eunice - March 8, 2020 Reply

I remember when I was at university I had a part time job on a Saturday. Afterwards as I was on the bus I would be looking out seeing other people enjoying each other’s company, making the most of London and I do desperately wanted that. However I had no one to do that with, my two housemates weren’t into going out. I would try my best to hide my tears and also cry once I got home into my room. Almost every week. Now I work Fridays felt like that. However I started doing things on my own (travelling, going to the cinema , concerts) and go to a running club on Saturday, I don’t think I’ve felt like that for a long time. However often times after a concert I’ve had so much fun I’m buzzing and want to carry on the night by going for drinks (non alcoholic as on a year break), but then I realise I’m alone. Even on holiday, well the first part I had met someone but even when we were together I didn’t always have the words to make conversation. However when he left I had been so attached to him (there was another girl but she left) that I felt so alone and thought is there something wrong with me, did I miss the boat in life on friendship. On this holiday someone asked if I live under a rock. Second person within the last 1 year that’s said that too me. Sometimes I feel my interests are just so out there that no one really understands me. Will I ever find a partner compatible enough for us to be. I can think of one but then he didn’t share my faith so it couldn’t work. Now none to very slim pickings. I try and convince myself that it’s ok you don’t need companionship, starve that desire.

Rodney Fuller - February 15, 2020 Reply

The solution for loneliness caused by CEN is identifying it and sharing the feelings with others.

Infran - December 17, 2019 Reply

“…loneliness is becoming a serious problem that threatens us all. New research from the American Psychological Association has established that far more people are living alone…”

Hold up! Though both these things may be true, they don’t necessarily have a 1:1 correlation, or anything of the sort. The introvert community will talk about how awesome it can be to live alone, especially if they have a job that plain will not allow them to be alone, anytime else.

I noticed that you mentioned that being alone doesn’t always mean being lonely, but I still object to the way this part is phrased – and I feel that a lot of other “innies” would, too. ^_^;

    Jonice - December 20, 2019 Reply

    Dear Infran, I did not say, or mean, that living alone = lonely. It’s just a possible risk factor for many.

Irene - December 17, 2019 Reply

Yes so very me my answers were 12 or more yes s to most of the questions related to how I did and do feel exactly.

Irene.

Michelle - December 15, 2019 Reply

It’s like you led my super-secret inner child over to a window you just put into her wall and showed her how beautiful it is on your side—of wanting to understand. I’m saving this part…so, so, true:

“This kind of loneliness comes from your childhood. It comes from growing up in a household where the deepest, most personal expression of who you are, your feelings, are ignored or squelched by your parents (Childhood Emotional Neglect, or CEN).

Having your feelings ignored or discouraged while your brain is developing sends you a deeply-felt, never-understood message:

You are alone in this world.

This is one of the powerful messages of Childhood Emotional Neglect. And it does not leave you simply because you grow up. It stays there, visiting at will, and often when you least expect it.”

Glad I got your books to read. 😉

    Jonice - December 20, 2019 Reply

    I’m glad too Michelle. Thanks for sharing.

Anna - December 15, 2019 Reply

“or are sitting at home alone on a Saturday night. This alone is painful, and difficult to tolerate.”
What a weird statement. Not everyone on the planet feels the same! I have sit at home alone saturday night probably the past 20 years already. I’m quite introvert and I would say I’d rather be alone than in a bad company! Sometimes it’s even a real pleasure, and I enjoy it. Watch movies, tv, arrange things, and of course, spending time with my dog!
I think everyone enjoys and needs to spend some time alone sometimes, and there’s not necessarily anything cen, pitiful or weird with that!

    Jonice - December 20, 2019 Reply

    Dear Anna, I am not saying everyone feels the same. Those are only examples of possible ways one could feel. And none of it is pitiful or weird!

Rodney - December 15, 2019 Reply

Hi Dr Jonice. I have a brother, nephew and close friend who are all narcissistic and controlling. So it is draining being with them. I don’t have any other friends. With your help I express my feelings more.

    Jonice - December 20, 2019 Reply

    I’m glad you’re expressing your feelings more. It sounds like cultivating some new friendships will be needed.

Mark - December 15, 2019 Reply

My problem is that if I am hurt by my SO and say so, they often just shout at me until it is months before I try that again. I don’t even know why I keep trying. I also have depression and bpd, and this is killing me.

    Jonice - December 20, 2019 Reply

    Dear Mark, please seek couple’s therapy. This sounds like a very painful situation.

Leave a Comment: