If someone tells us they feel lonely, what should we say and what shouldn't we say?

First, we must validate their perception, not dismiss it . Loneliness is a subjective experience; everyone perceives it differently. Some people with many social connections feel lonely, while others with fewer social connections don't. Therefore, if this person feels lonely, it's because they feel that way, and it's valid.

It's also important to convey the idea that feeling lonely is more common than we think. In our society, few people dare to verbalize that they feel lonely, and the images and messages we constantly receive reinforce the idea that it's normal to be around many people, make lots of plans… But the truth is that we can all feel lonely at certain stages and moments in our lives because we feel a mismatch between the quantity and quality of social relationships we would like to have and the ones we actually have. During times of life transition, we often feel the most alone (adolescence, young adulthood, changing jobs or residences, finishing our studies, losing important people, illnesses…) and this is perfectly normal.

From here, we can propose that we work together to find solutions . You have been brave enough to confide your feelings and emotions in us; if you wish, we can try to brainstorm solutions.

We give you some ideas about what kind of solutions can be activated.