Loneliness refers to a mismatch between the types of relationships that we want to have versus the ones that we perceive that we actually have. Loneliness is on the rise, particularly in the West, with Japan being the exception where the loneliness epidemic is a serious issue. The most effective coping strategies have involved talking therapies that help individuals to reconsider their relationships more positively. Furthermore, dialogue on the subject of how we cope with loneliness is increasingly important, because it can help us to reach out in positive ways and cope ‘consciously’, rather than “reach for the bottle”, smoke, binge watch Netflix or dwell in feelings of sadness.