We’re Not Alone in Feeling Lonely Sometimes

• Globally, we’re all feeling a bit lonelier than we have previously.
• Feeling lonely is part of being human—we all feel lonely at times, and that’s okay.
• Balance me-time vs we-time. Feeling lonely means the scales aren’t balanced.

According to the Office of National Statistics, over 3.7 million (7.2%) Brits over the age of 16 feel lonely, a number that is up 40%.  

In the U.S., 36% of all Americans feel serious loneliness, according to a Harvard Study. 43% of young adults felt an increase in loneliness since the pandemic and reported that no one had even asked how they are doing in the past few weeks.  

From this, it’s clear that feeling lonely is a common human experience. 

Everyone feels lonely at some point in their lives— it can be temporary and passing or long-term and hard to change—but we all feel it. While we all experience different levels, lengths, and reasons for loneliness, we may be able to help ourselves feel better by thinking about it in terms of finding balance. For example, sometimes when we’re feeling lonely it is an indicator that something in our social environment is off, tipping the scale, and can be a sign we need to prioritise ourselves.  

If you’ve ever felt alone in what you’re feeling, know that others have been there before. On Togetherall, our members share situations, feelings, and experiences that may feel isolating but once they post them, they receive comfort, validation, and support from others who have been there before. 

See how Togetherall members provide support to those who may be feeling lonely

What to know about feeling lonely and how to feel better 

Togetherall’s Chief Clinical Officer, Ben Locke, Ph.D., wants anyone who is feeling lonely to know that it’s normal and it’s okay. 

“Alone time is the yin and yang of the human experience and if you’re lonely at times, it just means you’re a little bit out of balance.”

When it comes to taking small steps to feel a little less alone, Locke has advice.  

“First of all, you don’t want to get rid of alone time if you’re feeling lonely, it just means you want to add in some people-time as well, and that takes being intentional about wanting to connect with others. It may feel difficult at first but finding ways to be with others a little bit each day is important.”

Tips on how to cope with loneliness and work towards feeling better 

Understand what you’re feeling  

• Think about when you started feeling lonely and why—it’s okay to admit it. 
• When trying to balance the scales think about what feeling less lonely means for you. 
• How much people time do you need to not feel lonely? 
• What does that people time look like? 
• What do those connections look like? 
• If you want to write about how you’re feeling, start a gratitude journal, or organise your thoughts, try using the Togetherall Journal tool. 

Know it’s normal to feel lonely sometimes  

• Being alone is a fundamental part of being human. Everyone feels lonely at some point in their lives; sometimes it’s a passing feeling and other times it’s more intense. 
• We all need alone time and together time, so if you recognise that you’re feeling a bit lonely, then you may be wanting more out of your social environments.

Reach out to others 

• It can be difficult and may even feel a bit unnatural but finding a shared experience with others can be the people-time we need to feel a little less alone.  
• This could be by joining a club or taking a class. 

Not sure if that’s the right move for you right now? That’s okay 

• You can still make meaningful connections with others in a safe, anonymous peer community on Togetherall.  
• Talk about your experiences and what you’re going through to people who understand in a judgment-free space. The Togetherall community is monitored 24/7 by trained mental health professionals to keep the environment safe and inclusive. 

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