The strangest feeling is being surrounded by friends and family… and still feeling isolated.
We usually think loneliness is about being alone. But research in social neuroscience shows it’s really about emotional alignment. When your inner state—stress, grief, worry—doesn’t match the mood around you, your brain can register disconnection,
even in a full room.
It’s how the brain notices when it’s not emotionally in sync with your environment.
So if the holidays feel lonely in a crowded house, it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. Just look for one interaction, that’s emotionally aligned. That’s enough for your brain to feel connection. You got this.
