Lonely or alone?

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J

JustViv

Guest
#1
Often times when you tell people how alone you are, people would say, "Oh, come on...stop whining about it! Stop feeling lonely and go out!" Is a person being alone, being lonely? Is being lonely, being alone? Can a person feel lonely when he/she is around people? What do you say?

Well, for me, being alone and being lonely is two totally different thing altogether.

A person can be lonely even when he/she is surrounded by people or having people there caring for him/her. You can have your family members and friends and feels lonely. Anyone can feel lonely and it is a horrible feeling. Even if you are with people, talking to you, eating with you, etc. you'd still feel lonely. If you're all by yourself, you'd feel even lonelier.


While being alone...I'd say when a person say he/she is alone, he/she basically have no one to depend on, on anything...be it emotional support, companionship, etc. The person is merely without any form of support. Spending time at work with workmates but after work hours, you are basically all by yourself. Come home to a place where you're all by yourself, all alone with no one to talk to and so on....festivities, you're by yourself...on your birthday, you're by yourself....the list go on and on. People would say you're lonely but you may not feel lonely because you're so used to the silence or probably human voice from the movies you play on whatever devices - TV or laptop or the computer, whatever.


What's your definition? Perhaps both means the same to you? Perhaps, you have your own definition?
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
26,520
8,822
113
#2
"A crowd is not company. And faces are but a gallery of pictures."

I don't know who said it... I heard it from Johnny-5, the sentient robot from the Short Circuit movies.
 
May 26, 2016
545
3
0
#3
When I feel lonely I ask Jesus for a christian side hug. Then I don't feel so lonely when I'm alone. It must be really hard. At least I have kids. The nights that they're with dad I spend on internet. I should pray, but I don't because of that gap that makes me feel lonely. Now I pray when I'm surrounded by others. Then I have no excuse.
Two months back or so I was so sick of it. I complained on another forum that God wanted me to Always be alone, not even a prayer partner I could get. And a sweet man who was also alone said: I want to be your prayer partner. No: you may not say that, be grateful, blablabla, go pray yourself, do this do that, stop whining, no, just a sweet: I'll be your friend.
So now I have a friend. Easy as that. And 3 bunnies who make me feel better.
 

GOP

Senior Member
Jul 12, 2015
1,668
91
48
#4
Peace be with you in JESUS NAME.
Good question and well said.

Often times when you tell people how alone you are, people would say, "Oh, come on...stop whining about it! Stop feeling lonely and go out!" Is a person being alone, being lonely? Is being lonely, being alone? Can a person feel lonely when he/she is around people? What do you say?

Well, for me, being alone and being lonely is two totally different thing altogether.

A person can be lonely even when he/she is surrounded by people or having people there caring for him/her. You can have your family members and friends and feels lonely. Anyone can feel lonely and it is a horrible feeling. Even if you are with people, talking to you, eating with you, etc. you'd still feel lonely. If you're all by yourself, you'd feel even lonelier.


While being alone...I'd say when a person say he/she is alone, he/she basically have no one to depend on, on anything...be it emotional support, companionship, etc. The person is merely without any form of support. Spending time at work with workmates but after work hours, you are basically all by yourself. Come home to a place where you're all by yourself, all alone with no one to talk to and so on....festivities, you're by yourself...on your birthday, you're by yourself....the list go on and on. People would say you're lonely but you may not feel lonely because you're so used to the silence or probably human voice from the movies you play on whatever devices - TV or laptop or the computer, whatever.


What's your definition? Perhaps both means the same to you? Perhaps, you have your own definition?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,043
13,576
113
#6
I define them differently: in my experience, aloneness is fine, as I am often alone. However, I have found that even around other people, I can feel lonely at times. Loneliness is felt most deeply with the absence of connection, rather than the absence of people. I am usually content in my own company, and many of my pastimes are easily done alone. Still, I would enjoy someone's company as I read, play music, or watch an auto race. It's nice to have feedback on my cooking too...
 
Jul 25, 2015
893
44
28
#7
The majority of people I have had similar conversations with seem to agree they are completely different. I really enjoy having some alone time and being alone is not a catalyst to feeling lonely. Just the other day I was knitting and was excited at the results so held it up to my dog and excitedly yelled "isn't it pretty.!" Realizing I was waiting too long for a response I seriously got bummed because I am now talking to my dog. True story but seriously though, moments and achievements I would like to share with someone spark small bursts of loneliness. The trick for me is to volunteer, call a friend, or visit family.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,043
13,576
113
#8
... Just the other day I was knitting and was excited at the results so held it up to my dog and excitedly yelled "isn't it pretty.!" Realizing I was waiting too long for a response I seriously got bummed because I am now talking to my dog. ...
You could hold it up for us...?

I think talking to one's pet is relatively common, even though we generally refuse to call it 'normal'. :)
 
C

Church2u2

Guest
#9
I can't speak for everyone else but I've felt lonely in a crowd..
 
Aug 13, 2013
965
8
18
#10
You can be lonely in a crowded room or you can be lonely all alone in your house. It can go both ways.
 
Jul 25, 2015
893
44
28
#11
You could hold it up for us...?

I think talking to one's pet is relatively common, even though we generally refuse to call it 'normal'. :)
Fantastic idea! Now where did they leave that hobbies thread?!? Lol
 
J

jeremyPJ

Guest
#12
sometimes it feels the same. I'm finding that it's still possible to feel alone in good company.

Hopefully my job comes through Monday as Promised. I can't wait for my life to change.
Granted i'm not going trough what I was four years ago, and finally about over it. But some things don't change, just the people. I have a control freak where I am now too. Job comes through, I'm moving there after I pool a few resources.

I'm getting very impatient. I can't stand control freaks. Especially when they take control of my kid, and exclude me and take charge of everything and don't even ask me. I basically forcefully invited myself along this time, I'm still left out. Been going on my whole life. My other parent just says "I know, been that way our entire marriage".

I'll live alone first before I marry another control freak. Hell no, I won't go. (Stryper!) :)
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
26,520
8,822
113
#13
Sometimes this thread reminds me of this song.

[video=youtube;vPiPac3sKNc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPiPac3sKNc[/video]
 
May 26, 2016
545
3
0
#14
I define them differently: in my experience, aloneness is fine, as I am often alone. However, I have found that even around other people, I can feel lonely at times. Loneliness is felt most deeply with the absence of connection, rather than the absence of people. I am usually content in my own company, and many of my pastimes are easily done alone. Still, I would enjoy someone's company as I read, play music, or watch an auto race. It's nice to have feedback on my cooking too...
You can always send me some. I'll let you know how it tastes.