Masterson stresses that, unfortunately, there is no one solution to feeling lonely. To her, it’s an innately human (and therefore inevitable) experience that can happen whether you consider 50 people in your life to be close friends or five. In fact, it has nothing to do with the number of people in your circle at all; it’s about the quality of those relationships, your proximity to them and the ways you feel like you can relate to those around you.

She is, however, clear on one thing: loneliness isn’t any kind of moral failure. It’s simply a natural byproduct of going through a period of life changes. “Every single one of my clients worries about loneliness in some form,” she says. “Those who have children, those who don’t, those in relationships, those climbing the career ladder – no one is immune to feeling like they’re getting left behind.”

That being said, if you are struggling with feelings of disconnection and want to take action, she shares the following advice.

Be honest about how you feel

“You don’t have to say it to anyone else, but there is something really powerful in recognising and admitting to yourself that you are craving more connection in your life, because the likelihood is that almost everyone in your life has or will feel that way at some point too,” Masterson says. “Whether through journaling, counselling or meditations, I recommend facing these feelings head-on. They’re what make you human, so don’t shy away from them.”

How loneliness in your 30s differs from your 20s, according to a psychologist (and how to tackle it)