Hello, question asker! I'm Jiang 61.
Thanks so much for trusting us and being willing to tell us what's on your mind so we can help you out and help you grow.
I'm not sure how old the questioner is now. After reading their self-description, I get the sense that they've always wanted to connect with others, but various opinions have made it difficult for them to do so. As a result, they're feeling anxious.
If you're interested in learning more about loneliness-11168.html" target="_blank">solitude, I'd be happy to give you an overview.
1. Loneliness, anxiety, and solitude
1. Loneliness and anxiety
You said, "Everyone says that people must learn to be alone, but what does it mean to be alone? Does it mean that you have to be alone?"
Then I'm online chatting with people all the time. Would you say that counts as being alone?
Let me start by explaining what loneliness and anxiety are.
Loneliness
Loneliness is the feeling that you're the only one there, that no one gets what you're feeling, like everyone else is one, and you're alone. Loneliness is a strong longing, the feeling of that longing not being fulfilled, that makes people feel lonely.
There are two kinds of loneliness.
The other is when I feel really lonely.
If you feel lonely, you are truly lonely. Loneliness can hide many unmet needs that you're not yet aware of.
Another thing is when I feel like other people are lonely.
It's possible that people who think others are lonely aren't actually lonely themselves.
Anxiety
Anxiety is when you're really worried about the safety of your loved ones or your own future. It can make you feel impatient, worried, sad, tense, panicky, and uneasy.
Anxiety is basically a fear of losing control.
Anxiety can be broken down into three main categories, from most to least intense. The first is uncertainty, the second is a sense of losing control and feeling incomplete, and the third is fear.
2. Being alone
Psychologist Kosh defines solitude as "a state of mind that is open, free, and aware when there is no direct contact with others in a specific time and space."
True solitude isn't about being alone or in a crowd. It's about having an independent and rich mind and spirit so you can explore the world peacefully from within.
True solitude is peaceful. It's being the only person in the world, free to let your thoughts wander and enjoy the feeling of being one with the world.
2. Your current state of mind
1. Feeling lonely
You say, "I've been feeling pretty lonely lately, so I've been chatting with people online, but then I read that people need to learn to be alone."
You say you've been feeling lonely lately, so you go online to chat. This shows that you're looking for a way to connect.
When you chat online about feeling lonely, someone suggests that the best way to overcome it is to learn to be alone.
Is solitude really the answer to loneliness? I don't think so.
True solitude is about being alone, whether you're alone or in a crowd. Your mind and spirit are independent and full. You can explore the world peacefully without seeking salvation from the outside world. In other words, you can accomplish what you want to do without being connected to other people.
True solitude is peaceful. In his eyes, the whole world is just himself. In this world, he can let his thoughts fly and enjoy the thrill of being one with the world.
It's clear that when you're on your own, you feel anxious, restless, and so on. At least for now, your mind and heart aren't ready to be independent and can't handle being alone.
2. Anxiety when alone
You say, "But when you're alone, it's especially easy to think nonsense. I have some anxiety, especially at night, when no one talks to me. I'm especially anxious. I can't get anything done. I just want to chat with someone."
It's evident that your loneliness stems from some form of anxiety. This anxiety could be a desire for connection with others or a fear rooted in concerns about the future. It's only when you're alone that you lose that connection with others or feel insecure about some worry or uncertainty about the future that you start to daydream. Especially at night, if there's no one to talk to, you become particularly anxious and can't do anything but want to chat with someone.
When you want to chat with someone, you want to draw them into your world so you can get feedback and interaction on your thoughts, and so they can see and feel you. That's how you feel secure. But people who are alone are strong and secure within, and they don't need the care or attention of others, nor do they need to communicate with others. What they need is to keep their own world calm so they can have a better dialogue with themselves and understand themselves better.
3. What's behind loneliness and anxiety?
Loneliness and anxiety both show that something's wrong inside, that you're afraid, and that you need something you're not getting. What is it you need? When you feel lonely, you go online to chat, and when you feel anxious, you hope that someone will talk to you so that your mind can be at peace.
The thing they have in common is that you're missing that human connection, so you feel insecure, irritable, and fearful. You need someone to talk to and soothe your anxiety.
But this is just the surface-level need you've shared. Is there a deeper need that hasn't been met?
People with an insecurity complex usually want to connect with others. This is often related to their childhood experiences. If they received a lot of love and care from their parents when they were growing up, they will feel secure and be able to handle any situation with ease, and live a comfortable life.
If you want to be alone, you have to be strong. You have to find out why you're feeling anxious and lonely.
3. How can you gradually get used to being on your own?
What should the state of truly learning to be alone be like? If I'm someone who can't be alone, do I have to learn to be alone?
1. Being alone is a skill.
Winnicott once wrote an essay about the ability to be alone. He said that being alone is a skill.
He says that a person's ability to be alone is based on how they felt when they were an infant or young child, in the presence of their mother.
Every child needs to feel attached to their mother or other important caregivers in the early years of life, especially before the age of five. If they feel safe, they won't worry that their mother will leave them.
He'll start to explore the world with his mom around, like touching the chairs in the house or joining in with his friends' games.
The child gets all this done without the mother's help, but she's there if he needs her, so he can play without worrying. This shows he feels safe inside.
Before the child turns five, the mother gives her a sense of security and a sense of self. With these two things, the child has a secure attachment to his mother.
The ability to be yourself without relying on the outside world.
So, being alone is something you can learn to do if you have a secure attachment to your family.
2. Moving from passive companionship to solitude
Not everyone can get this kind of secure attachment from their parents or other people who look after them. What should they do if they are in the same situation as the person who originally posted this? The answer is passive companionship.
Passive company
Passive companionship is when you're watching TV and your friend is doing homework or playing cards, and you're both silent but aware of each other. Another example is when you're shopping in a mall and you don't know anyone around you, but you still feel secure. Or when you're eating in a restaurant and the people around you don't need to talk to you, but you feel more at ease with them there.
Passive companionship is all about creating a safe and comfortable space where you can explore your senses and discover your true self. Over time, you'll find you don't need this specific environment because you've adapted to it and found your true self in it.
Set up a space where you can be alone and get used to it.
In your own home, create a separate space that's just for you. Spend a little time alone in this space every day, doing whatever you want.
As you get into the habit of doing things, you can gradually increase the amount of time you spend alone. There's no need to set a fixed period; just gradually get into the habit of being alone.
3. Being alone
The best gifts our parents can give us are a sense of security and the ability to be alone, so that we can become our own person. Being alone is the best way to test the results of their parenting.
If we can't get this best gift, we can get it through other methods, like passive companionship, and we can make up for it ourselves.
We get that no matter how close the relationships around us are, we ultimately need to separate and live independently in our own little world. Previously, we gradually found security in passive companionship and adapted to this solitary environment.
Now we can start organizing our thoughts, moving on from all our social roles, and spending time with ourselves in ways that work for us.
The questioner wants to be able to be alone without feeling lonely or anxious, so they should just give it a try. Being able to be alone is valuable for everyone.
This is the best way to figure out who you are.
I hope the questioner finds happiness!
Yesterday 134 reads
Lately, I've been feeling pretty lonely, so I've been chatting with people online. But I've also read that people should learn to be alone. But when I'm alone, I get all kinds of crazy thoughts in my head. And I get anxious, especially at night. I get really anxious when no one is there to talk to me. I can't get anything done; I just want to chat with people. Everyone says that people should learn to be alone, but what does it mean to be alone? Do you have to be by yourself?
If I stay home and chat with people online all the time, does that still count as being alone?
What does it really mean to learn to be alone? If I'm someone who can't be alone, do I have to learn to be alone?
Comments
I totally get what you're saying. It's like being alone is this big, scary concept that everyone insists is important but doesn't feel right when I try it. The idea of enjoying solitude seems so far away when all I can think about is reaching out to someone.
It feels like there's pressure to be okay with being alone, but the reality is much harder. At night, it's worse because everything gets quiet and your thoughts take over. I wonder if learning to be alone means finding peace in those moments or just getting used to the anxiety.
Sometimes I think being alone isn't about physical isolation but more about inner calm. If chatting online helps you feel less anxious, maybe it's a step towards understanding yourself better. Maybe being alone is not about cutting off connections but building a stronger one with yourself.
The struggle between wanting company and needing solitude is real. Perhaps it's not about choosing one over the other but finding a balance. Learning to be alone might mean accepting those crazy thoughts and figuring out how to sit with them without feeling overwhelmed.
I've felt that way too, where being alone triggers anxiety, yet society suggests it's essential for personal growth. Could it be that true aloneness is not about avoiding people but becoming comfortable enough with yourself that you don't need constant distraction?