Loneliness vs social isolation?

The first distinction that differentiates loneliness from social isolation is that these two concepts are not mutually exclusive. Someone can be socially isolated and not experience loneliness. Likewise, someone can be lonely even when surrounded by other people. That does not mean that they do not ever happen simultaneously but, one can exist without the other. When breaking down the actual definitions of each, loneliness refers to the onset of negative emotions that occur with a perceived lack of social connectivity. Meanwhile, social isolation is, put, lacking in social connection or the act of emotionally and/or physically distancing oneself from social connections and relationships.

These two concepts further separate themselves from one another in that the act of social isolation is often surrounded by choices that people make either for themselves or others.  People can intentionally socially isolate themselves either because of a mental health issue or personal preference.  However, people can also socially isolate others.  If somebody is growing up in an area where they are very different from those around them, the majority of people might reject them, leading to unwanted social isolation. Thus, a choice has been made by the rest of that community to isolate that person socially.

Whether it is because of their preference, a mental health symptom, or an active division that one causes between someone and the rest of the community, a level of intention are needed to isolate themselves from others socially.  Loneliness can feel involuntary, and there is always an underlying desire for creating connectivity.  Within social isolation, this desire might not exist. Someone might be perfectly content in being by themselves with limited interactions with others.

The important thing to note is that when both concepts appear to exist simultaneously, it is wise to consider different resources that might help establish some connection. Whether those resources are for oneself or a loved one struggling to connect, learning how to locate therapists/counselors, peer support specialists or even self-help/support groups within the area/community can help alleviate both feelings of social isolation and loneliness.