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What is the difference between isolation and loneliness?

305 Answers
Last Updated: 08/30/2021 at 7:36pm
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Johanna Liasides, MSc, PhDc

Psychologist

I work with youth and young adults to help them improve depressive symptoms and self-esteem as well as effectively address family, relationship and peer conflicts.

Top Rated Answers
GuardianRose12
April 4th, 2020 10:42pm
Isolation is where you put in a situation where you are restricted to where you can go and do certain activities normally got stay at place ie home or accommodation , loneliness is where you feel you are alone and don't have anyone to talk to, you can feel loneliness when you have a lot of people around you too, people who are in icolating can also feel loneliness if they are by themselves and feel no one to talk to its important to have someone to talk to regardless the reason why you feel lonely or in isolation
CaptainBoost
April 4th, 2020 3:37pm
Isolation is when you are left alone with no one around you like being left in the home alone or being locked up in a room. Loneliness is when you feel abandoned and no one's standing by your side or even having no friends. Feeling lonely could result from having no one by your side or having even no friend supporting you or even talking to you at all. You could be isolated but not lonely and you could be lonely but not isolated. Like sitting on a bench in break time at school having no one to talk to or even to play with while isolation is just leaving you alone without anyone around you but you could be isolated but not lonely. For example, you could be locked up in a room but your friends send you letters through the window perhaps.
Luminous1806
April 3rd, 2020 3:34pm
I find that alone or isolated and lonely to be hugely different. While you can be alone and yet still feel loved and support, it makes a person comfortable with themselves in whatever surrounding they are in. They will always find activities that can help them grow. They accept themselves for their strengths and weaknesses and can be alone and still be happy. On the other hand, I have seen individuals in a room full of people and who are completely lonely. One who is lonely does not feel as if they have support nor do they feel loved by others and most importantly from themselves due to this, they have no sense of belonging and forgetting that no man is an island.
MLHG
March 28th, 2020 9:00pm
Isolation is a lack of sufficient contact, and can be self-imposed. Loneliness is feeling as if one lacks that sufficient contact, even if they are trying to end it. Loneliness and isolation are not mutually exclusive, but they are not tied together either. It is possible for one to be isolated and not consciously feel lonely, though that is generally a bad thing, and so too is it possible to feel lonely without being isolated. Ending isolation usually takes more pushing of oneself socially, while ending loneliness seems to require a shift in your view of your life, though in cases where loneliness and isolation exist, ending isolation must come before ending loneliness. Depending on who you are and where you are in life, ending isolation can be easier or harder than ending loneliness, as some people exist in isolation without feeling negative effects from it, while others feel crushing loneliness even while not being in isolation. As with anything inherent to a human being, it varies from person to person.
MulberryMuffin
March 27th, 2020 6:53pm
Isolation means distancing. Loneliness is a negative emotion. You feel miserable when lonely. You could or could not feel bad while isolation. Isolation could be by conscious choice but not loneliness. If I am lonely, I will seek comfort . I will try to not stay in this feeling. I will try to talk to somebody or distract myself. I will try to make myself feel better. I will try to evade that feeling. Isolation could be a conscious decision or imposed. Both ways it means staying away from people. In general sense it means physical distancing. Although it could also be mental distancing.
Ahnastaesia
March 26th, 2020 12:34pm
Isolation is when you’re choosing to cut everyone off, to stay away from the outside world, to be alone without wishing to seek comfort of others. People also isolate themselves to try and deal with problems and assess/process them on their own. Loneliness is when you truly feel alone, it could be when you’re trying to reach out to others, trying to hang out and communicate with them and you just don’t feel wanted or they don’t really engage. Loneliness can come from anywhere, people a lot of times feel alone in the world. I know i’ve felt alone before, but remember that there is ALWAYS someone out there who WILL be there for YOU! Don’t be shy to try to reach out to someone!
Wrangler501
March 21st, 2020 10:59pm
Isolation is a willingness to take a break from the world for refreshing and to gather ones well being and mental health. Loneliness however, is a feeling of being isolated from others and feeling like one has no control over that state of being. There is an epidemic in our world today of people who are lonely. The key however to overcome this situation is to look out beyond ones self by reaching out to others. Get involved in a club, group, or church. Volunteer. Once someone does this, not only are they helping others, but they are also helping themselves.
Paprika7
February 26th, 2020 9:02pm
These two may be linked, but they definitely aren't the same! Loneliness is classified as an emotional state, or perhaps a feeling. It is often described as feeling alone or separated. Meanwhile, isolation is being separated from your environment and other people. This can be something that occurs through your own decision, but it may also be something that happens because of circumstances. These two are definitely linked, however, and one may lead to another. Reasons people may feel lonely or like they're isolated can be similar and the same, such as geographical location or living alone, for example.
mysteriousMist1323
February 19th, 2020 4:18pm
Isolation refers to not having access to meet any one for the outer world where as loneliness refers to the feeling where though the person being surrounding by thousands of people feel that there is no one who is concerned about their feelings and there sadness. A person in loneliness don't have a person to share his feelings and listen to his thoughts. Where as a person in isolation is deprived of contact with any other person. That is the main difference isolation and loneliness. But person with isolation can feel lonely due to lack of people to share his thoughts.
Anonymous
February 14th, 2020 7:04pm
It is a good question. According to Merriam-Webster, isolation is "the action of isolating; the condition of being isolated". In Collins Dictionary, you can find the definition of lonelessness as "Loneliness is the unhappiness that is felt by someone because they do not have any friends or do not have anyone to talk to." Isolation is an action/condition and loneliness is a feeling. For various reasons, people end in the isolation condition. They may find lonely. The quickest way to get out of the loneliness state of mind is through seeking connections with others. Talk with others, friends, family, even listeners on 7 Cups.
Anonymous
January 22nd, 2020 1:08pm
Well I'd say that lonrliness is feeling. You feel like you don't have anyone to spend time with or to trust. You can feel empty and anxious. You feel like you are alone and there isn't anyone around you. Isolation on the other side is something that can cause loneliness and other troubles. You can be isolated by others, when they don't talk to you, ignores you or just pretend you don't exist. You can also isolate yourself, conciously or unconciously. You may stop attending social events, stop talking to friends or get really reserved and closed up. When that happens it's important to try change that. Loneliness coming wit isolation or without it is painful problem and I'm sorry if you feel that way but it can be better and it will.
Sagettarius
January 9th, 2020 9:18am
I think that the difference between isolation and loneliness is quite subtle. In both situations, you are on your own, whether that's physically or mentally. However, isolation may well be a state that you have chosen consciously. You may feel that you need to remove yourself from the daily hubbub or a particular situation that is bugging you. So ultimately it can be something you chose. Loneliness is a very different animal. You can be achingly lonely in a crowded room or at a family gathering. People usually think of loneliness as being alone, but it's not at al the same thing. Loneliness often stems from a feeling of being misunderstood or being an outsider for one reason or another. It's not a conscious choice, rather a state that requires you to make a conscious decision to change.
firecrackersintheeast
December 28th, 2019 1:38am
It seems to me that isolation is an act, and loneliness is an emotion. The act of isolation is often seen as a coping mechanism, but more often than not I think it's more of a symptom. That is, we don't isolate ourselves because we think it will make ourselves feel better. The desire to isolate ourselves is part of depression and other mental health problems, and it makes us feel even lonelier! Loneliness can happen with or without isolation. We can be in a crowded room and still feel lonely. That is, isolation causes loneliness but it's not the ONLY thing that can cause loneliness.
EdSAB
November 12th, 2018 8:30am
The difference between isolation and loneliness...Well one can be isolated from other people but not feel lonely, because they can feel comfortable being alone. With loneliness, one can feel lonely even while surrounded by friends and family. It happens when they feel like no one can understand them and they just feel alone. However, people can be both, isolated and lonely. Most people gain comfort in the company of others and they don’t feel lonely with at least one other person. When they get isolated from everyone else, they feel lonely. That is how I would explain the difference between isolation and loneliness.
Anonymous
February 9th, 2019 7:23pm
Isolation depicts a level of forced singularity, be it chosen or enforced. However loneliness doesn't mean you are alone. You can have the whole world at your feet, or be surrounded by people who love and care for you, yet you can still feel overwhelming loneliness. I often think of it like this - If im isolated it can be because im sick, i need my own space, im reflecting or for some reason i have been closed off from the rest of the world; while I could be at a part of 100+ guests and feel loneliness that ive never felt before.
radiantHoliday71
January 19th, 2019 8:13am
In my opinion, isolation is boundary set by ourselves for us distinguish 'our land' and 'other's land'. That you close the door for anyone about something particular you don't want other to ever touch it. Loneliness, also in my opinion, is one fact that tell us we lack of intimacy relationship with other people. It tells us non verbally reminding we need a person who close to us, someone we trust and love and those feeling are mutual. It does not necessarily require from a bunch of people instead one or two persons will be enough. In my limited subjective research on every day life, young adult (more or less 18-23), weigh this matter so much. I don't know why exactly at the same time I wish they are aware ability to choose where the boundary must be applied.
Anonymous
January 12th, 2019 11:47pm
Isolation is literally being alone in a place. For example, being in a large room but no one in the room with you. However, loneliness is when being surrounded by a large or small amount of people, btut feeling you cannot talk to them or seek help to them. For example, a room full of people who are all talking and laughing you sitting in the middle of it yet not feeling the same as they do. The difference is when being isolated you are kiterally alone yet being lonely is even being in a massive group of friends yet feeling different.
NordligSno
January 10th, 2019 3:32pm
Isolation may not necessarily cause loneliness. But loneliness usually causes isolation, due to the feelings of depression and demotivation. Loneliness is a state of mind or feeling of isolation, which can prevent you from spending time with loved ones or friends because you choose to be on your own or you find it hard to be in the presence of others, and instead, you hide away in your room/push them away. You can be in a huge crowd or with close friends and still be lonely. Isolation is when you don't have anyone or anything around you, it's a situation you can't control. It might be 'accidental' or it can be intended, such as if a friend group leaves you out of the loop.
ingeniousPeace79
January 2nd, 2019 10:18am
In my dictionary, they are absolutely the same. The center of reference is different, that's all. I would add to the list, the word aloneness. 1. isolation is when you are focused either on your ego (very self absorbed) Or, when you are focused on some beliefs, that majority doesn't have, doesn't believe them. Both give isolation because the more differences there are between you and others, the more distance. It's natural law at work. Isolation, or degree of isolation, is given by the number of differences between you and other(s). 2. loneliness, is the same as point 1, but you crave the other's presence for some reason other is required, because you decided so. (like sex, relationship, communication etc) And the other is missing. Other can be a person or a thing or whatever. 3. Aloneness is best of all 3. You are preoccupied with Yourself, not your ego. You are aware of your ego, its frustrations (because maybe points 1 and 2) But You are learning from the state, You are Yourself, You are, You see, You invest in some goals that you have, You enjoy your presence, Your life, You create it, You know where You are going, and You know what You build, and why.
Anonymous
December 26th, 2018 9:55am
Lonely: comes from the feeling of sadness, you may feel this when you’re homesick or miss a loved one, it can vary quite a lot. this feeling may happen even if you do have friends and a lot of family, as everyone feels lonely at some point whether you are young or old. Isolation: locking yourself in your room for days on end, or just not wanting to see anyone at all, not wanting to eat, chat or do anything especially if it concerns going out of your bedroom when you’d rather sit by yourself isolated in that cold dark room.
snowflakes
November 15th, 2018 4:44am
Loneliness is when you feel alone. You can feel alone even when you are surrounded by people. Isolation is having less number of people in contact. It's about number. So loneliness is about quality and about how and what we desire from our contacts. Isolation is about quantity. We can easily increase contacts to decrease isolation but loneliness needs to be working on relationship with these contacts. They are related as isolation can lead to loneliness and loneliness to isolation. It's important to work on both when we want to decrease them. It's important to be able to meet and speak to people. And it's also important to improve the quality of relationship with people.
Anonymous
November 14th, 2018 3:12pm
Isolation means you want to be alone, you go away from everyone and refuse to stay with any other human being. You rather stay alone in your room then with your family in the living room, you don‘t go to party‘s anymore and you don‘t meet any more friends because you want to stay alone. You WANT to be alone, you don‘t want anyone else. It‘s your decision. But loneliness means you feel alone, you would love to have someone with you, friends or family, but they aren‘t there. Isolation: want to be alone Loneliness: want to have someone but you are alone
magnanimousWinter46
October 4th, 2018 11:52pm
Isolation is physically being apart from someone or something. Loneliness is a mental/emotional feeling of being apart from someone or something. At times our loneliness can be so severe that we do physically feel isolated from someone or something. The mind is very powerful. But you are never alone! We can get through our tough times with a great support system. Just know that you are not the only one, we are human with you. Isolation and loneliness are feelings to be shared, there are no right or wrong ways of expressing them either. We are all entitled to our emotions.
phosphenerelief
September 19th, 2018 8:22pm
From my perspective isolation refers to when you are actually physically alone, with no one around you - something that can be the result of social or personal isolation. Whereas loneliness can be felt when you're actually alone or surrounded by people, it can happen regardless of whether people are including you and talking to you or ignoring you - it's more of an internal feeling, often matched with the feeling of not feeling like you belong. For feelings of being isolated, I'd recommend the difficult but do-able action of trying new activities being them social or just in public spaces, this will lessen feelings of isolation. With loneliness, it can be a symptom of depression and rumination - thinking you don't belong or that your friends don't want you there when they actually do and therefore the work needs to be done on the inside out.
bentleek
September 20th, 2018 9:05pm
I view isolation as purposefully withdrawing from people and not really wanting to interact, whereas when people are lonely, they do crave human interaction but can’t really seem to find it. In short, isolation is intentional but loneliness isn’t. Also, loneliness tends to be an emotion, while isolation is more of a state of being, or action. Isolation is a common symptom of depression, while loneliness can contribute to being depressed. I personally tend to isolate and wish to be alone, but I don’t necessarily feel lonely. I think both have similarities, but when you get down to it, are also very different.
Anonymous
September 29th, 2018 5:21am
the difference between isolation and loneliness is quite similar, but different as well. isolation is when one is all alone without having much of a choice. it can also mean that the person wants to be alone in order to feel at peace. loneliness is a feeling someone may have. it can be when one has trouble feeling like they are there, present in the moment. one may feel like they are misunderstood or out of place. it is when they feel as if no one is there for them. loneliness is when someone may have support from others, but they still feel like they are alone in the situation, not taken seriously or they are simply misunderstood.
Anonymous
October 20th, 2018 1:58pm
Isolation is where you push yourself away from your friends, family and people who care and love for you. You spend a lot of time in your room and don't really get out much anymore. Your trapped inside, this could include being trapped inside your own mind. Loneliness is where you have no one to talk to about how you feel. Tend to bottle up your feelings and thoughts. No one to trust. All you want is someone to realise that you aren't ok and need a helping friend. You try to get out or surround yourself but nothing seems to work.
Helper567
November 2nd, 2018 5:01am
Isolation is the withdraw from interaction with others people while loneliness can just mean you feel distant but still interact. Also, with isolation you tend not to talk as much, you make less eye contact, and you do more things alone than in groups. On the other hand, with loneliness you seem sad more often (even though that can go with isolation as well) and tend to mope around as well. I really hope this helps and thourghly answered the question. If it didnt I'm always open to messages and will gladly talk more about it when I have the time.
thoughtfulPillow12
February 17th, 2019 12:52am
Isolation is a state, a state of being separated from humans or human contact, and loneliness is a feeling. One maybe physically isolated without feeling lonely, or reversely, be surrounded by people, yet feeling very lonely. There can be overlaps between the two terms, too, and hence we also have the term "emotional isolation." Generally speaking, such is the case, but of course since "isolation" carries a more negative connotation than "aloneness" even though "aloneness" also points to a state, "isolation" can be more closely associated with "loneliness" than "aloneness" is. "Isolation" seems to also imply separation, perhaps unnatural, while "aloneness" simply means being by oneself.
Tinman0666
October 7th, 2018 7:54am
Isolation to me is removing myself from everyone and everything. Loneliness is what I feel. One is an act that is brought about by the other. I will many times try to isolate myself when I am feeling anxious or I am needing to center myself. When I feel lonely, I have to get away from everything and everyone. I feel lonely in crowds. Not because I feel inadequate, I am a very confident person all in all. It is just that when I am lonely, I feel like I need to get away from everyone so that I can get away from that feeling.