IMO most of what is "connectedness" or "anti-loneliness" is an illusion. Like those movie scenes where two actors mirror each other's movements to create the illusion of a mirror.
That is, connectedness requires an external structure to synchronize everyone's rhythm. This can be a sports team, a religion, a shared love the same anime or breed of dog, etc...
Loneliness feels more pronounced when in the presence of these illusions. It's not easily solved because from the pov of the lonely person, he/she is asked to believe the equivalent of "2+2=5" in exchange for that kind of connection. It feels like an ask to self-lobotomize. (even if from the pov of say a therapist, the client is actually just in a different kind of illusion)
* "illusion" can have negative valence so an alternative here is "story" or "pillar of meaning"
That is, connectedness requires an external structure to synchronize everyone's rhythm. This can be a sports team, a religion, a shared love the same anime or breed of dog, etc...
Loneliness feels more pronounced when in the presence of these illusions. It's not easily solved because from the pov of the lonely person, he/she is asked to believe the equivalent of "2+2=5" in exchange for that kind of connection. It feels like an ask to self-lobotomize. (even if from the pov of say a therapist, the client is actually just in a different kind of illusion)
* "illusion" can have negative valence so an alternative here is "story" or "pillar of meaning"