After COVID, we ALL thought we had become experts on social isolation and loneliness. Yet, most people get the first thing wrong:
Social isolation and loneliness are NOT the same.
The Surgeon General defines ‘social isolation’ as objectively having few social relationships or interactions.
The keyword is Objective.
Loneliness, on the other hand, is a subjective feeling of distress from that isolation or those inadequate social connections.
As a result, you can actually be socially isolated, yet not be lonely. Like living alone in the woods by choice.
Or you could be lonely, yet not isolated. Like living in a big city surrounded 24/7 by people, but not feeling connected to anyone.
These distinctions are not just semantics — but really important to understanding the growing science behind loneliness, and more importantly, very key if we want to help those struggling — because this helps us get to the root cause.
