During the most difficult moments in my life, I often felt alone. The intensity of the experience (the drop to the knees variety) was so acute that it felt as if all security and stability had fallen away. Like standing on a cliff, the feeling was both overwhelmingly terrifying and sad as if I had tunnel vision and the only thing I saw was rock bottom.

In moments like those, I’ve learned that I am far from being alone. That in every situation that hurts, there is another soul out there grieving the same thing.

If you feel alone right now, remember that you are surrounded and loved even by people you have never met. Just do an internet search about whatever you are going through and you’ll find hundreds to thousands of others dealing with the exact same thing.

I’ve learned that sorrow and despair are two longing sisters that need to be nurtured. Sometimes they are healed by silence and solitude. But other times it is in the eyes of a caring friend, the compassion from a person you never met, or even the unexpected gift you didn’t expect from an acquaintance that can see you through.

We are not meant to be alone. As you cry out into the quiet darkness with fear, be comforted in knowing there are people who love you and who are holding you up even when you are unaware of it.

I am always surprised by the people that pass through my life right when I need it.

• A little boy on an airplane handing me two pieces of gum to prevent my ears from plugging, one for the way up and the other for the way down.
• The couple on the airplane who gave me their phone number in case I needed help adjusting to my new home in California.
• The store owner who said to come by if I ever needed anything.
• The gym mate who saw an online article on regrets and printed me a copy so that I would live my life without any.

There are angels in heaven and angels on earth. If you open your eyes to the world around you, even when it hurts, you will witness how loved and cared for you are, even when you think you’re alone.

Brandi-Ann Uyemura is a freelance writer who specializes in psychology and self-help articles. She has a MA in Counseling Psychology and writes for several publications and websites. You can get more information about her here. She also blogs about inspiration, writing inspiration and psychology.