India, Aug. 30 -- The loneliness epidemic occurs among abandoned elders, ditched partners, and frustrated individuals, from remote solitude to crowded rooms, open-plan offices, community hubs, hostels, cafes, and vibrant tourist hubs. The phenomenon of "social proximity without emotional density" occurs in the company of people from whom you are completely detached.

THE 'CROWDED-ROOM PARADOX'

History shows that immense fame, constant company, and public adoration offer no immunity against isolation. A person surrounded by thousands who love an image finds it nearly impossible to find emotional support, as a thirsty person marooned in floods or at sea. In her private notes, Marilyn Monroe revealed an agonizing chasm between her public pe...