BY WENDY KAUR
Loneliness and boredom can intertwine, with boredom sometimes masking a plea for companionship and meaningful engagement, as highlighted by Richard Nicastro, PhD, which, if ignored, can harm relationships and self-esteem.
Phrases like "Are you doing anything today?" or "I can tag along if you want" can serve as indirect requests for companionship, particularly if repeated regularly, indicating potential loneliness, while responses like "It's okay, I had a hunch you'd be busy" can further underscore feelings of isolation.
Paradoxically, lonely individuals can also have a tendency to isolate themselves, as exemplified by Indian actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who, following her father's death, sought refuge in work but later faced a period of depression and solitude, despite efforts by friends to engage her, leading to a prolonged period of sadness and self-imposed isolation.
Loneliness often accompanies feelings of sadness or depression, which may be expressed indirectly through phrases like "I'm feeling down" as a way for individuals to seek validation of their emotions without necessarily requesting companionship.
This phrase, tinged with resentment and seeking help, often reflects disappointment in close relationships due to high expectations and may result in expressions of anger or bitterness, but addressing loneliness requires self-initiated efforts rather than expecting others to prioritize it on demand.