Sometimes we all feel left behind by someone or something. The weary feeling of being alone in a room filled with people. Loneliness is a haunting feeling, the more you try to come out the more you go inside. It is like the Devil's Snare in Harry Potter, you should not move or panic but have to relax to really escape from its grip. 

So what exactly is loneliness?

There are many “scientific definitions”. I believe we all have our own personal definition of loneliness. What loneliness for me might never be loneliness for you and vice-versa. I experience loneliness whenever I am left behind in a conversation, like, when the conversation takes a turn wherein the new topic of discussion is completely alien to me. 

What is your personal definition of loneliness?

As a social species, we rely on a safe and secure social environment to strive and live. Imagine yourself in a big house alone and even a small noise could make you vigilant for a threat and increase the feeling of vulnerability with an increased desire to have someone with you to share and handle the situation. And now imagine you are with your family or friends in a large house and think about the impact a small sound could make on you now. Can you feel the difference?

Loneliness is not only about leading a life alone, you can have an absolutely wonderful social life but still, feel lonely at heart or you can live alone and still don't find yourself lonely. As many as 80% of people below 18 years are lonely, the rate gradually decreasing through adulthood and increasing to 40% in old age. It can affect both our health and mental wellbeing. It may also account for increased morbidity and mortality rates.  

This loneliness feeling is not a new one still in our present scenario it plays a vital role. The pandemic has not only affected the physical well-being of people but also their mental well-being. The issue of mental health however goes unnoticed in the hustle to keep everyone physically well. 

As I said in the beginning, loneliness is like the Devil Snare in Harry Potter, to escape from it, you either have to relax on your own or you should have a friend like Hermione who could save you from it. Be a Hermione in someone's life or be Harry in your own life. 

Ganga Ambily Gopi