"A landmark review published in Perspectives on Psychological Science by John Cacioppo and Stephanie Cacioppo found that loneliness is driven not by the quantity of social connections but by their perceived quality. You can be isolated and feel perfectly whole. You can be surrounded and feel utterly alone."
"It's the ache of a particular gap: the distance between being cared for and being known. Being Loved and Being Understood Are Not the Same Thing. Love says: I want good things for you. Understanding says: I see the shape of your inner world. They overlap sometimes. But not always."
Loneliness is not simply caused by social isolation or lack of connections. Research demonstrates that perceived quality of relationships determines loneliness more than the number of people in one's life. A person can feel profoundly alone despite being surrounded by caring people who genuinely support them. This paradoxical loneliness arises from a specific gap: the distance between receiving care and being truly known. Being loved and being understood are distinct experiences that do not always align. Someone can be deeply cared for while their inner world remains unseen and uncomprehended by those around them, creating an isolating experience that contradicts outward appearances of a full social life.
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