Aloneness and loneliness. These are two words that are too often interchanged as if they are one in the same. Yes, they may share the same root—“lone”—but the feelings associated with each are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Alone is the physical act of being by yourself. It may be voluntary or involuntary, but it is simply a state of being that should carry no particular meaning.

Loneliness? That’s a whole other concept. Loneliness can appear at any point—when you are alone, but also when you are surrounded by people. It’s a deep sense of emptiness and disconnect, as if, however cliché, you are on an island unto yourself, unable to swim to the shore where the rest of the world awaits.

It’s important to realize that feeling lonely does not mean you are alone. You are not, indeed, stranded in isolation by yourself. The feeling does not equate to your reality or identity—you are still valued, loved, and alive.

Rupi Kaur’s poem “You are your own soul mate” comes to mind at this moment:

loneliness is a sign

you are in desperate

need of yourself

Loneliness is simply a moment of insecurity, a moment of a lost sense of self, that must be worked through mentally. But remember: loneliness is normal, but it is also fleeting.