Science has tried for years to understand loneliness .
loneliness is not an emotion its a signal that tells the brain something important is missing.
Humans need social connections, and when these needs aren’t fulfilled, our body responds with stress and disorientation.
Certain regions of the brain associated with pain become more active when we experience loneliness.
Our body produces cortisol the same stress hormone that is released in response to threats or danger.
We can be among people and yet feel isolated.
Researchers explain that this occurs when our interactions lose their warmth, when words feel empty, or when we no longer feel truly understood.
For early humans, this served as a signal to return to the group, to seek safety and support from others.
It was essential for survival.
That instinct has never truly disappeared.
Even now, with all our screens and endless messages, our brain still longs for the simple presence of another person nearby the sound of their voice, the comfort of being seen and recognized.
Connection isn’t a luxury in life it’s what grounds us, what preserves our humanity, and what gently draws us back to one another.