- What is the difference between being alone and feeling lonely?
- I know a lot of people and I have a social life, but I actually feel lonely and misunderstood. Why is this happening to me?
- This sadness I feel now that I'm young, this loneliness, will it stay with me for the rest of my life? Is it a problem with my personality?
- I'm ashamed to admit that I feel lonely and I don't know how or where to ask for help.
- How can I tell if my child is alone because they like being alone or because they don't have friends?
- What are the consequences for my teenage daughter of not having friends?
- My daughter has always had plenty of friends, but lately she's started isolating herself and we don't know why. What should we parents do?
- What can I do to avoid feeling lonely?
- How can I overcome my fears and low self-esteem so I can meet people and not feel so alone?
- Can technology help me or does it worsen the feeling of loneliness due to the lack of physical contact with other people?
- How can we help a young person who feels lonely?
- I feel lonely and I'm feeling unwell both physically and emotionally, could this be related?
- I've moved and I'm finding it difficult to connect with people I don't know. Could feeling lonely lead to depression?
- If someone tells us they feel lonely, what should we say and what shouldn't we say?
- How can educators detect if a teenager or young person is suffering from unwanted loneliness?
How can we help a young person who feels lonely?
There are different ways to help a young person who feels lonely. The first step is to recognize this situation and make sure that the person truly feels lonely . Loneliness is subjective; we might perceive this person as lonely because they have few friends, but they may not experience it that way, and they may have exactly the number and quality of relationships they desire.
Secondly, if she feels lonely, we must validate her feelings . It's valid and normal to feel lonely. Everyone is likely to feel lonely at some point in their lives, especially during life transitions like adolescence and young adulthood. Therefore, it's important to validate and acknowledge that she's not alone and that it's something that happens.
If you trust this person, you can accompany her , if she wants, with some suggestions :
- Together, look for social activities that might interest you and allow you to meet new people outside your usual network.
- Participate in volunteer activities or in associations.
- Find group activities with other young people your age during school holidays.
- Develop strategies, with the help of professionals if necessary, to support them in this situation (emotional management, self-esteem, self-awareness, healthy lifestyle habits). If you believe professional help is important, seek out resources, services, projects, and professionals who can support them.
If you are a professional working with young people, you may find the Guide for the Prevention, Detection, and Support of Adolescents and Young People in Situations of Solitude , developed by the LIBERI research team at the University of Girona for the Barcelona City Council, a useful resource. It details strategies and guidelines for identifying and supporting these cases within a professional setting.