Loneliness is a feeling of emptiness or hollowness inside you. You feel isolated or separated from the world, cut off from those you would like to have contact with. There are different kinds of loneliness and different degrees of loneliness. You might experience loneliness as a vague feeling that something is not right, a kind of minor emptiness. Or you might feel loneliness as a very intense deprivation and deep pain. One type of loneliness might be related to missing a specific individual because they have died or because they are so far away. Another type might be involve feeling alone and out of contact with people because you are actually physically isolated from people like you might be if you work alone on the night shift or are off alone in a part of a building where people seldom go or you do not lead a normal life because of a disability.. You might even feel emotionally isolated when you are surrounded by people but are having difficulty reaching out to them.

Loneliness is different to being alone.

It needs to be emphasized that loneliness is not the same as being alone. A person will always have time when they chose to be alone. Rather, loneliness is the feeling of being alone and feeling sad about it. And, of course, all of us feel lonely some of the time. It is only when we seem trapped in our loneliness that it becomes a real problem. That problem is magnified if you, like me, have a disability which influences your ability to get out and meet people easily.

I have survived MS for over 30 years and have lost the ability to do many things - but I am still able to meet and greet other people and given th opportunity, can talk the hind legs off a donkey!

I have joined Just Able Friends.