Lonely singles and loneliness: Loneliness is painful. That pain does not respect age nor do the pains of loneliness go away by themselves. Being single and lonely hurts. |
The Pain of Lonely: "I feel like my stomach is a big cheese with a little rat gnawing away at it--never making any progress. But it is painful--it hurts." "I can't settle down--I just walk around my new apartment picking things up, putting them down, and never really accomplishing anything. I feel like I'm in pain." "I feel like I am empty inside--no stomach, no insides, nothing. And it hurts." "It's kind of like the pain of flu but not really." These singles are all describing loneliness. There is no doubt that loneliness is painful. And that pain is real. The pain could be more severe when combined with the end of a relationship, but all loneliness carries some pain. Generally single men report more feelings of loneliness than single women do, although no one escapes the aches of loneliness as well as some of the companions of loneliness. Companions of loneliness often include:
Intended comforts for loneliness can be deceiving, too. Often activities that should decrease loneliness, such as a night out with happily married friends or holidays with family, can actually make lonely feelings more intense and painful.. |
|
