Psychology says the loneliest form of love isn't being unloved its being adored for a version of yourself you've been performing so long that the real you has started to feel like the imposter - Silicon Canals

""The worst kind of lonely isn't being alone. It's being loved for someone you're not even sure exists anymore.""

""People can absolutely love the False Self. They can marry it. Build careers around it. Raise families with it.""

""When the False Self takes over, the True Self gets buried beneath years of performance.""

""If someone adores you for a joke you told ten years ago that wasn't really funny, and you've been telling it ever since just to keep the smile on their face...""

Loneliness can stem from being adored for a false self rather than the true self. Many people experience disconnection despite external affection. The concept of True Self and False Self, introduced by Donald Winnicott, explains this phenomenon. The False Self is a polished version created to please others, while the True Self is the authentic, messy individual. When the False Self dominates, it can lead to feelings of isolation, as individuals may question who is truly loved.

Read at Silicon Canals