Psychologist warns: This mistake leaves people lonely over time

Psychologist A. Groblytė warns that a common mistake people make can lead to long-term loneliness. She explains that a diverse range of relationships is essential for human well-being, encompassing not only intimate connections with partners and family but also weaker, yet significant, ties with colleagues, neighbors, and acquaintances. These varied relationships fulfill different roles, preventing an excessive burden on any single connection.

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Sometimes we expect a partner, best friend, or family to meet almost all our emotional and social needs, but this is a very big burden for one relationship.

According to Groblytė, expecting a partner or best friend to meet all emotional and social needs is an unrealistic expectation. Different people offer unique support: some provide emotional understanding, others share common interests or professional goals, and some offer practical help or a sense of community. A robust network reduces pressure on individual relationships and fosters a stronger sense of belonging.

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The more diverse this network, the less the burden of expectations on each individual relationship, the more rooted we feel in our social environment.

The psychologist stresses that the quality and depth of relationships matter more than sheer numbers. While some individuals thrive on a wide circle of acquaintances, others prefer fewer, deeper connections. The key to psychological well-being lies in feeling connected and having at least a few close relationships. These connections also offer opportunities for self-discovery, revealing different facets of one's personality through interactions.

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For psychological well-being, it is not important how many people we know, but whether we feel connected to someone and have at least a few close relationships.

Groblytė notes that relationships require continuous attention and evolve over time. Difficult life events often highlight the importance of social support. If feeling lonely, she advises seeking opportunities to build connections, starting with small steps like conversing with neighbors or engaging in hobbies and volunteer work. She distinguishes between chosen solitude, which can be restorative, and loneliness, a painful feeling of being unseen or disconnected.

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If we feel lonely, it is important to look for opportunities to build connections. The beginning can be very simple – a regular conversation with a neighbor, joining meaningful activities, volunteering, or pursuing a hobby.