Is loneliness a sign of depression?

Depression is something we don’t really think about – we just use the word to describe feeling sad. In fact, it is a long term condition of low energy, lack of motivation and negative attitude. It is something stronger than common sadness and way more complex. Depression is often associated with being alone, but is loneliness really a sign of depression?

 

Without a doubt, loneliness can be a logical consequence of depression. When you lack the motivation to do anything you become less inclined to put effort into socializing. This reduces human contact and strengthens the negative feeling of being left out and misunderstood. It is often something we do deliberately – avoid interactions with people on purpose. It can seem strange, but there is a logical explanation. Our brains produce the chemicals that cause us to feel sad, happy, and angry – everything we feel is chemistry. When an emotion is really strong, a lot of the given chemical is produced which can make us develop a dependence on it. Thus, if we feel sad for a long time, we can get used to the feeling and subconsciously make ourselves feel bad,it becomes a cycle. All this is with one purpose- to stimulate the production of the specific hormone. It is the same with happiness as well – many people are hooked on training for the same reason, because physical effort produces endorphins, which give a short-term feeling of euphoria.

Nevertheless, loneliness is not bound to always be a sign of depression. As with many emotions its cause can differ in many ways. Usually it is a result of feeling not in the right place. Take for example this situation: you go to a new university and everyone always talks about a sport you feel indifferent about. People may like you, talk to you, but in the end you don’t receive much pleasure in communicating, as the topics are not interesting for you. This doesn’t mean that you are depressed – it just means that you should do something about your environment. A good thing is to accept others tastes and try to find a neutral topic. Also searching for people that share point of view helps – it is really the most logical thing to do.

Not a symptom, but a trigger

Loneliness can be the main cause to feel depressed. If this is the case than it something more than a symptom– it is the main engine of depression.  The example with the university above can also serve here. If you can’t find people who share your view about the sport, or to find a neutral topic, this lack of fulfillment in communication can become something really bad for your psychology.  

So in conclusion – we can’t really generalize whether loneliness is a sign of depression. If you happen to think of yourself as unappreciated and lonely, the best thing to do is to make an unbiased analysis of the situation. It will not only give you a clue what to do from now on, but also an opportunity to learn more about yourself.