How to deal with loneliness and protect your mental health
Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted are the most terrible poverty.
Loneliness is a feeling that many may have felt at some point in life. It can be for various reasons like moving to a new place, lacking companionship, feeling left or disconnected from others around, etc.
What is loneliness?
Loneliness is the state of mind where you feel lonely or experience a need for social connections which does not match reality.
It is not necessarily social isolation. In fact, people can feel lonely even when surrounded by people all the time or in long-term relationships. Being lonely is not the same as being alone.
Loneliness can be understood as involuntary feelings of isolation, rejection, separation, or abandonment.
Lonely people can develop mental health issues like depressive symptoms that can have negative effects on their overall well-being.
What are the causes of loneliness?
Causes of loneliness can vary from person to person. Some common causes of loneliness are the following:
- Physical Isolation
- Moving to a new place
- Death of a close person
- Divorce or end of a relationship
- Mental health problems like depression and low self-esteem
- Personality traits like introversion
What are the symptoms of loneliness?
Loneliness is a complicated feeling which may differ from person to person. Feelings of loneliness are often associated with the following feelings:
- Sadness, detachment, pain, insecure
- Feeling isolated or left out
- Feeling disconnected
- Feeling misunderstood
- Feeling lonely even when surrounded by people
- Longing for connection
- Social interactions feel exhausting
- Pondering and reflecting the past events
- Feeling inferior
- Difficulty in sleeping
How does loneliness affect our mental health?
Transient or short-term loneliness may be experienced by people in certain instances or situations. Most commonly, they are not harmful in the long run.
Chronic loneliness or long-term loneliness, however, may have some serious effects on both the mental health and physical health of people.
Effects of Loneliness on mental health
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Schizoid personality disorder
- Reduced memory and learning ability
Effects of Loneliness on physical health
- Suicide
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity
- Usage of drugs
Loneliness FAQs
How to deal with loneliness? ︿
Loneliness is a clear indication of human connection, and the first step to combat loneliness is to acknowledge your feelings. Make some time to interact with people and build meaningful relationships.
Do something productive and enjoyable, for instance, drawing, dancing, music, cooking, etc. It can help to enhance mood. Get out in the fresh air. For instance, go for a walk in the neighborhood to get some physical activity and enhance your mood. You can also try volunteering.
Lastly, don’t forget to practice gratitude. Try to list at least three reasons to be thankful.
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