Loneliness Researchers know that loneliness or social isolation (which is not the same as enjoying some solo time which we all need) can lead to or are a result of all kinds of other mental and physical illnesses. It can be a vicious circle. Teenagers are not immune to loneliness even though they, at times, seem more connected than previous generations. This article suggests loneliness in teenagers is problematic and at times pervasive but that parents and other adults do not understand these feelings of loneliness in their teens, citing a “mismatch between adult perception and teenage reality”. The result is that teens often feel judged, and adults, including the teen’s parents fail to provide a safe place to talk about those feelings. Counselling for adolescents can help as can family therapy where teens and their parents can learn how to better communicate, truly hear and understand each other, and meaningfully connect.
