Loneliness is a feeling that exists to motivate you to connect with other people. It works like hunger and thirst — causing unpleasant feelings in order to motivate you to action.

People feel lonely when they are getting less social connection than they need.

In healthy individuals, loneliness exists primarily as a short-term emotional response that lasts only until a person reconnects with others. However, in today’s fast paced and disconnected world, many people fail to get the connection they need. Over time, chronic exposure to social isolation causes our bodies and brains to adapt to low levels of connection — leading to what we call “chronic loneliness.”

Individuals who are chronically lonely may still feel lonely, but they also become more vigilant and cautious. They may find social interactions to be unpleasant or unfulfilling. These experiences may lead to social withdrawal or further discontent.

While these reactions may seem confusing, they are a form of self-preservation.

Unfortunately, the resulting isolation only deepens the experience of loneliness. Therefore, in order to address loneliness, this maladaptive cycle must be broken.

Almost everyone experiences loneliness at some point or another. Most studies suggest that between 5 and 30% of people regularly experience loneliness — with young adults and older adults being at the greatest risk for feelings of loneliness.

Fortunately, most people experience loneliness only temporarily. As such, temporary feelings of loneliness are about 2 to 3 times more common than chronic loneliness.

Loneliness is as harmful, if not more harmful, than many leading risk factors for premature death. The health effects of loneliness arise through four main pathways:

1) Bodily Wear and Tear from Stress Response: Being lonely can make you feel stressed for a long time. This stress can harm your body, leading to serious health problems like heart disease and even affecting your brain.

2) Lack of Social Support: Lonely people often don't have enough support to handle health problems or stressful situations. For example, they might not have someone to help them visit a doctor or give advice about a health issue, leading to worse health outcomes.

3) Unhealthy Coping Behaviors: Lonely people might not eat well, exercise enough, or may engage in risky behaviors like unsafe sex or using harmful substances. These habits can further harm their health.

4) Linkages with Other Health Issues: Loneliness often goes hand-in-hand with other problems like low income or disabilities. These issues can both cause and worsen loneliness, creating a cycle that's hard to break.

To treat loneliness, individuals must overcome their social fears and anxieties and find ways to establish warm, meaningful relationships with others. Through these relationships, lonely people can develop a sense of belonging, which is protective against feelings of loneliness.

However, this is easier said than done. Many people experience barriers to social connection, including maladaptive attitudes and beliefs that make social interactions less enjoyable.

Therefore, many people who are lonely require individualized support to escape the cycle of loneliness. This support may include opportunities for social interaction, counseling and therapy, social skills training, and material support, such as help with transportation.