Ruby Wax on life after loneliness: ‘I always felt isolated. Mindfulness helped me drop my armour’

I created a persona to help me fit in - but no one can connect with you when you're presenting a tough front. Once I left the narcissistic shores of TV, I learned to live very differently

Loneliness was in our lives long before lockdown. We all pretended to be part of one big happy electronic family by zinging back and forth a few heart-shaped emojis to show we cared, but deep down we knew it was just a click of a button that meant nothing. I even sent those hearts to my plumber.

Personally, I have always felt lonely. From childhood, my main motive was to be accepted so I didn't have to feel alone. And certainly not alone with my parents, who brought the war from Europe into our breakfast nook.