Why do I feel lonely around other people?

Question

Anonymous Practitioner · Accepted Answer

A man once told me he felt more alone at parties than at home by himself. I understood exactly what he meant.

There's a particular kind of loneliness that has nothing to do with how many people are in the room, and everything to do with how much of yourself you're allowed to bring into it.

Being surrounded by people you can't be honest with isn't companionship — it's just a crowded kind of solitude. You're not lonely because you lack company. You're lonely because you lack a place to stop performing.

“Why do I feel lonely around other people?”