How to Deal With Loneliness
How to Deal With Loneliness
Many people ask how to deal with loneliness, especially during times of extreme stress and pandemics.
Even though the number of people who experience loneliness is more than usual, we can all understand the feeling of being alone.
Loneliness can cause emotional pain and affect people in many other ways by:
- Affecting your physical health
- Causing anxiety and depression
- Leading to physical pain
How To Deal With Symptoms of Loneliness
Several studies support that loneliness does affect your general well-being.
When loneliness and depression affect your emotional health, it is time to seek services. Studies show that the part of the brain that processes social exclusion is also responsible for processing physical pain. So, if you’re lonely, that part of the brain will react by causing physical pain.
Similarly, one study has shown that lonely people tend to suffer more from depression than others. They also tend to be less social and fear social interactions.
Signs of Loneliness
When a person is lonely, they may experience the following:
- Mental health problems
- Believing that no one cares about them
- Withdrawing from those they care about
- Reporting suicidal thoughts
Loneliness is a common issue right now, and many lonely people are looking for ways to connect to you and others online.
How to Deal with Loneliness
1. Radical Acceptance that loneliness is a part of a pandemic
Accepting that loneliness is normal, and many people experience it. It doesn’t make it easier to deal with loneliness, yet it makes you normalize the experience instead of thinking you’re odd.
About 40% of people admit to experiencing loneliness at some point in their lives. Similarly, anyone can experience loneliness, regardless of their social class, marital status, financial situation, or social cycle. You may even know a person with lots of friends and family, yet they still say they’re lonely. Honestly, loneliness is subjective so it’s important to remember you’re not the only lonely person in the world.
2. Join a Group
Joining any class or online group will help you meet people. Instead of avoiding, it’s important to lean into conversations with those whom you share common interests.
It actually may help you develop a sense of belonging, thus improving your creativity and ability to innovate.
3. Volunteer
You can also volunteer to be part of a cause you believe in. There are animal shelters and soup kitchens in Connecticut that are looking. That means other states and countries may have this opportunity too! By doing this, you can get satisfaction to live a healthy lifestyle.
For those who have never done it, offering a hand to those who need it does provide a sense of gratitude within you for contributing.
4. Be Mindful Of Your Thoughts
Remember, loneliness can be a state of mind. Spending time alone is not a problem, yet if you drift into loneliness, it may become one.
Be mindful of your thoughts when you’re alone and remind yourself that you’re more clever than what your inner critic may say.
5. Practice self-kindness
When you’re feeling lonely and depressed due to challenges, practice self-love. Take care of yourself by taking a walk, having fun, dancing, moving your body in a way that feels joyous, or something else!
6. Pay attention to what makes you lonely
If you do not pay attention, you may not discover the reason for your loneliness. Identify times of day that are more lonely and notice what leads to those moments.
So, how you deal with loneliness is the opposite action! Find connection, support, and friendship from those online, and share any information in a journal so you feel like you can go through some of your thoughts.
7. Strengthen Existing Relationships
Try to strengthen your relationship by calling or texting others more often and asking if you could send each other voice or video messages.
If none of these work in dealing with loneliness, see a therapist
If you don’t get fulfillment from engaging in activities like your hobbies, you may decide to seek psychotherapy. Sometimes, overcoming loneliness doesn’t just happen; you need to put in the effort to make it work.
If you find it challenging to overcome loneliness and depression after trying out the tips above, you may want to consider seeking advice from a psychotherapist.
You can also seek the help of an online therapist, and they’ll be more than happy to help you out.
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