Why do I feel lonely even when I’m around people?
Loneliness is the gap between the connection you want and the connection you have. It’s about how close you feel, not how many people are around. It can be stronger if you worry where you stand, or keep people at arm’s length.
What it can look like
A room full of people you know, and you’re still on the outside.
At the party or in the group chat, you can still feel left out. You’re not imagining it.
What research found
Worldwide, 20.9% of 13–17-year-olds and 17.4% of 18–29-year-olds say they feel lonely.
Loneliness is the gap between the connection you want and the connection you have. Quality matters, not just how many people are around.
What it’s linked to
The quiz measures these. A higher score on them can make this moment louder.
- Worry about closeness
How much you worry about where you stand with people.
- Unease with closeness
How uneasy it feels to lean on people or let them in.
Try this
Notice who you feel least alone with, and send them one message.
Where do you sit?
Your free reading shows where you sit on Worry about closeness and Unease with closeness, the things linked to this. It all comes from your own answers.
Free · 29 questions · no sign-up
Types it often shows up in
It happens to almost everyone. In these types’ pages, it comes up as part of how they work.
This page is for noticing, not a diagnosis. If it feels like too much right now, here are people you can talk to.