Single and Lonely: The Loneliness Trap & How to Break Free in 2024
Single people can often feel lonely. This can impact our perceptions and behaviours in self-defeating ways, making us feel 'trapped' in an unhealthy cycle.
Feeling lonely?
First things first: you are far from alone.
Many people report feeling lonely at times: it's a natural human state. In fact, half of all people - whether they're in a relationship or not - report feeling alone either some of the time, or most of the time.
Unfortunately, the painful realities of single loneliness are rarely discussed. Add this to the social pressure to 'embrace our loneliness' or put a positive spin on everything, it can be hard to open up about the ways that single loneliness truly affects us.
Although the feeling can become all-encompassing, it is important that we don't allow it to trap us, or become part of our longer term identity.
Why loneliness is a trap
Being lonely can affect people in lots of ways. It can reduce confidence, make you feel less optimistic - even make it harder to identify with others. Single loneliness can feel like a self-fulfilling prophecy because the longer you go without having a partner, the harder it can be to take the steps to move forwards and search for one.
Loneliness fosters a self-defeating psychology that makes it difficult to