Loneliness is human. Connection matters.
A practical guide to understanding loneliness and social isolation, recognising what they can look like, and finding ways back towards connection.
What is loneliness?
Loneliness is the uncomfortable feeling that our relationships or social contact do not give us the connection, closeness or sense of belonging we need. It can affect anyone, and it does not always mean being physically alone.
Being alone and feeling lonely are not the same thing.
Some people enjoy solitude and feel content with time on their own. Others can feel deeply lonely while surrounded by colleagues, relatives, friends or people online. What matters is the quality and meaning of the connection.
Different experiences of loneliness
Emotional loneliness
Missing a close, trusted relationship or a person with whom you felt deeply connected.
Social loneliness
Feeling that you lack a wider circle of friends, neighbours, colleagues or community contacts.
Situational loneliness
Loneliness linked to a life event or a particular time, such as moving, bereavement, retirement or holidays.
Transient loneliness
A feeling that comes and goes rather than remaining constant.
Chronic loneliness
Persistent loneliness that lasts for a long period and may begin to affect everyday wellbeing.
Who can experience loneliness?
Anyone can feel lonely. Life changes, disability, caring responsibilities, bereavement, relationship changes, financial pressure, discrimination, mobility barriers, moving home, becoming a parent, starting university or work, and many other circumstances can reduce opportunities for meaningful connection.
Loneliness and social isolation
They overlap, but they are not identical. Social isolation describes having relatively few social contacts. Loneliness describes how a person feels about the relationships and connection they have. A person may experience one without the other, or both together.
Why long-term loneliness matters
Persistent loneliness can affect emotional and physical wellbeing, sleep, confidence and motivation, and can make reaching out feel more difficult over time. If loneliness is affecting your health or day-to-day life, speaking to your GP or an appropriate support service can be a useful next step.
Small steps towards connection
There is no single solution. For some people the first step may be attending a coffee morning, joining a class, volunteering, learning a new skill, speaking to a neighbour, reconnecting with someone they trust or asking for help finding a suitable service.
- Acknowledge what you are feeling without judgement.
- Identify what kind of connection or support would feel useful.
- Take one manageable next step.
Loneliness in London
London is full of people, yet it can still feel anonymous and disconnected. SUNSHINE wants to help turn neighbours into connections, connections into friendships and communities into places where people feel they belong.
If you would like to find a SUNSHINE programme, activity or volunteering opportunity, we would be happy to hear from you.