Loneliness has a way of slipping in quite unnoticed. Its cold bony grasp takes hold of you and before you know it, you’re shrouded in darkness. Struggling to find the same meaning in the simplest of things. That little voice in your head gets louder and louder, hurling insults and throwing low blows. It doesn’t take long before those statements ring true and you begin to understand why they don’t call back, why they turn their backs, why you can’t make them happy or hold their attention – you’re invisible, you’re parasitic, you’re nothing.

Loneliness fills your being with ice cold contempt. It floods your mind with falsehoods and warps your perception like a fun house mirror. A persuasive bully, loneliness makes you question your very right to be alive. Loneliness doesn’t discriminate – its victims are old and young, black and white, men and women, rich and poor. Loneliness victimizes those of us who are truly alone and those of us surrounded by friends. Loneliness has one goal, destruction through isolation.

Isolation can be physical or mental, the damage is the same – higher rates of suicide, heart disease, stroke, altered brain function, increased levels of stress and cortisol, antisocial behavior, alcohol and drug abuse, memory problems and altered brain function. It’s no wonder it’s still one of the harshest punishments you can inflict on a person.

The answer to every question or problem in life seems to be “look inward.” But what are you do to when you do turn inward and are met with an overbearing liar telling you how worthless and disgusting you are. Repeating that you’re a mistake, that you’re a burden, that you’re merely tolerated. “You, my friend, aren’t worth their time, attention or respect. Who are you to expect anything from anyone?” it hisses.

So you retreat, you slink away and you wither – a tired, unlovable, clumsy mess with nothing to offer but frustration and heartache. Well deserving of the pain and insults you continue to hurl at your self, you keep your mouth shut and shrink to take up less space. Besides, it’s easier for loneliness to find you that way, a weak and stagnate target with no fight left in it.