What It Means
Loneliness is the feeling that you don't have the close, meaningful relationships or the sense of belonging you need. CDC separates it from social isolation, which is having few relationships or little contact with others and little or no support. You can feel lonely in a busy office or a full house, and someone who lives alone may not feel lonely at all.
Try It: Loneliness, Isolation or Both?
Using CDC's definitions, decide what each person is dealing with.
Maya works in a busy office and lives with family, but feels nobody really knows her.
Right. Plenty of contact, but she feels she lacks close connection.
She has lots of contact, so isolation doesn't fit. The missing piece is feeling known.
Sam moved to a new city, knows nobody there yet and misses having close friends.
Right. Little contact, and he feels the lack of it.
Both fit here: little contact with anyone, and he misses closeness.
Ruth, 80, lives alone, rarely talks to anyone, and has nobody to call if she falls, but says she's content.
Right. Few contacts and no support, even if she doesn't feel lonely.
She says she's content, so the clearest fit is isolation: little contact and no one to help.
How People Say It
- "I've got people all around me and still feel lonely."
- "Since the move, I don't really have anyone to call."
- "Working from home is great, but some weeks I barely talk to anyone."
The Breakdown
Signs loneliness may be building
- You can't think of someone you'd call with good news or bad.
- Most of your conversations are about logistics, not about you.
- You've stopped reaching out because it feels like effort no one returns.
- Weekends feel long and empty.
Why it matters. In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory called "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation." HHS reported that about half of U.S. adults said they experienced measurable loneliness even before the COVID-19 pandemic, and that poor social connection is linked to a 29% higher risk of heart disease, a 32% higher risk of stroke and, for older adults with chronic loneliness, about a 50% higher risk of dementia. The advisory compared the effect on early death to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.
Small steps CDC suggests
| Step | Example |
|---|---|
| Start a conversation | A friend, a family member, a neighbor or a coworker |
| Use online time to connect | Message someone instead of scrolling |
| Volunteer | A local group that needs a hand |
| Do something that fills you up | Read, listen to music, exercise or learn a skill |
Starting the conversation. "I've been feeling a bit cut off lately. Would you want to get coffee this week?"
Good to Know
The Surgeon General's advisory also links loneliness with a greater risk of depression and anxiety. When low mood lasts, or loneliness is making it hard to get through the day, talk with a doctor or licensed mental health professional. If you're having thoughts of suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 (the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), and call 911 in an emergency.
FAQ
What is the difference between loneliness and social isolation?
CDC defines loneliness as feeling you lack meaningful or close relationships or a sense of belonging, and social isolation as having few relationships or little contact and little support. One is a feeling and the other is a situation, and a person can have either without the other.
What is the loneliness epidemic?
It's the phrase from the U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 advisory, "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation." HHS reported that about half of U.S. adults experienced measurable loneliness even before the pandemic.
How do I start feeling less lonely?
Start small and specific. CDC suggests starting a conversation with a friend, neighbor or coworker, using time online to connect rather than scroll, and volunteering.
Do It in Buhata
Reminders and Calendar
Set a weekly Reminder in Buhata to message or call one person, and put a standing coffee date with a friend on your Calendar.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Friendship maintenance
The everyday effort that keeps a friendship going, which researchers group into four behaviors: positivity, supportiveness, openness and spending time together.
- Self-care
Taking time to do things that help you live well and look after your physical and mental health, such as moving, sleeping, resting and staying in touch.
- Seasonal affective disorder
A type of depression that follows the seasons, most often starting in late fall or early winter and lifting in spring and summer.
- Caregiver burnout
Physical, emotional and mental exhaustion that can build when you spend your time and energy looking after someone else's health and safety.
- Self-compassion
Treating yourself with the kindness you'd offer a friend when you struggle; researcher Kristin Neff describes three parts: self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness.
- Mood tracker
A daily record of how your mood was, often a number or a color for each day, kept to spot patterns over weeks and months.
Sources
CDC, "Loneliness" (How Right Now); CDC, "Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness"; CDC, "Promising Approaches to Promote Social Connection"; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "New Surgeon General Advisory Raises Alarm about the Devastating Impact of the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in the United States" (May 3, 2023); Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation" (2023); 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- www.cdc.gov/howrightnow/emotion/loneliness/index.html
- www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html
- www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/data-research/promising-approaches/index.html
- www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html
- www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf
- 988lifeline.org
Last updated .