Feeling lonely despite being around people? Here's what's wrong

When you're surrounded by people at a party or gathering do you still feel alone? And then you brush off the feeling thinking - I'm surrounded by people I can't feel that way. 

But the truth is, you can. What you are brushing off is being alone. Loneliness is a feeling while alone is a state of being. And it is completely normal to be alone, but feeling lonely is not the best feeling, especially when we are surrounded by people. As humans - the most social animals, we should feel connected with the people around us. Feeling lonely for long intervals can have a drastic effect on your mental health. 

If you have trouble figuring out why you have been feeling that way, here are some possibilities:

The feeling is inherited

Numerous studies conducted by researchers suggest that the feeling of loneliness can be inherited. Apparently, it is not just a state of being but a gene that is passed on from one generation to another. To make yourself feel better, you can try to identify the root of the problem. And once you do, you can address it. 

You are an introvert

For most introverts, socialising is completely exhausting. Many people don't even know they are introverts, since they feel exhausted after hanging out with too many people. Post this, it takes them a lot of time to recover and rejuvenate. 

Fear of missing out (FOMO)

This just means that you spend too much time on social media and feel left out when some of your friends hang out without you. So, ultimately, when you see them next, you feel a sense of detachment because you feel like you have missed out on something. 

Low self-esteem

Confidence plays a huge role when you hang out with other people. You may feel unworthy or incapable of hanging out with the people you usually do and therefore start to feel distanced from them. You may feel like they hate you and that you are unwanted. The solution to this is to believe that you are actually worth their attention and company. 

You are always guarded

It could be possible that you aren't completely okay with the people you hangout with. Maybe you don't trust them enough, or maybe they don't make you feel as comfortable as you would like, but you always have your guard up around them. You have boundaries that you don't let them cross and are genuinely not interested in hanging out with them.

You prefer a few close friends

You may have numerous friends but don't feel an actual connection to any of them. This means that you just prefer quality connections in your life. This just means you need to have fewer friends you can make better connections with and hang out with them. 

You may feel incomplete

You may feel like a minuscule part of this big group - like you are wasting your time by being unproductive. To get rid of this feeling, follow your passion. Volunteer or take part in things or attend events that hold your interest.

Life is too short and to feel lonely when you could feel so many other positive emotions is not acceptable. Maybe it is time you figure out what the problem is and curb it. 

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comment section below.