PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — We’ve all felt lonely. It’s a human emotion. But after the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans reported an increased feeling of loneliness.
What that loneliness looks like can be different for everyone.
“We have people who are sitting in coffee shops by themselves all the time and enjoy it, and we have people that can be in a crowded room and feel disconnected from everybody,” said Dr. Jaime Zuckerman, a licensed clinical psychologist based in Pennsylvania.
About 33% of people in the United States said they experience loneliness regularly., Among Americans 18 and younger, that number is higher, at 80%, according to Cross River Therapy.
Zuckerman believes some people can grow out of loneliness as they get older.
“When they figure out who they are, and what their needs are, what they want in life, we see them have the flexibility and ability to branch out as an adult, whereas a child, you're a lot more limited,” she added.
Zuckerman talks about what causes loneliness, and how to know when to ask for help, on the latest episode of KYW Newsradio In Depth.
Listen to the full conversation in the player below, on the Audacy app or wherever you get your podcasts.