If you’ve ever scrolled past a group trip or a birthday dinner and felt your chest drop, this one is for you.
In this episode, I share what it’s like to have deep friendships scattered across the world and not one big local friend group, and why the highlight reel can make you feel lonely even when you’re well connected. We get into the difference between being alone and being lonely, the two types of loneliness (emotional and social), what research says about weak ties and the casual connections we tend to dismiss, and what we do and don’t know about comparison and social media.
You’ll leave with a clearer question to ask the next time that drop hits: which type of connection am I actually hungry for?
Your homework: draw two columns, one for the people you can be really honest with and one for the people and places that give you a sense of belonging. Notice which one feels thin, then choose one small action for it this week.
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Research mentioned:
- Robert Weiss (1973), emotional and social loneliness
- Robin Dunbar’s work on the layers of social networks
- Sandstrom & Dunn (2014), “Social Interactions and Well-Being: The Surprising Power of Weak Ties,” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
- Yang (2016), research on Instagram use, loneliness and social comparison
- Hunt et al. (2018), the study on limiting social media use
This episode is for education and reflection, not a replacement for professional support. If loneliness feels heavy or constant, please speak with your GP or a mental health professional.
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