Luís
Loneliness is - Casa
1. For me, loneliness is...
Something that can catch anyone and can take many shapes and forms. It’s the feeling of not having anyone to rescue you when you need it most, even when you are surrounded by countless people. It’s your exposure to your fears, and in my case, the fears of not being home.
2. The last time I felt lonely was...
When my partner went away for a few days with short notice, and I was left with a test to the resilience of my mental health.
3. Tell me a story about the last time you felt lonely...
It was precisely when my partner went back home for a few days with short notice, which meant I had no plans. In a city like London, where there are so many things to do, loneliness becomes more intense; you are confronted with the inability to see friends spontaneously, and no one can rescue you from that hole but yourself. In those days, I felt the distance from home and learned how important it is for me to plan weeks like this in advance.
4. What made you realise you were feeling this way? What were the triggers?
The fact that I had no reason to leave the house. As someone who was used to being outside back home, that can be a suffocating feeling.
5. What helps you cope with loneliness, or what has helped you in the past?
Planning in advance, but also understanding the phase you are in. I believe it was more challenging for me because my partner was one of the few things that made London feel like home — but that’s just a phase. Over time, your network expands, and the fears that live in this city become less threatening.
6. What message would you like to share with others?
It takes time to build your “casa” away from home, but also courage to confront your feelings of loneliness. If one of your pillars is temporarily absent, just like happened to me, that can also be an opportunity for you to solidify your roots in the new city; plan in advance, explore, get to know what you love there, and over time, those fears disappear.
