• Mental Health

5 Effective Tips for Managing Loneliness

The feeling of loneliness continues to be on the rise in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Around  one in three adults in the U.S. reported feeling lonely. Health experts have been paying close attention to this increase in loneliness, especially in an age where a lot of our time is spent online. 

What is Loneliness?

Loneliness is not about being alone physically. Some people may feel happiness in solitude when no one else is around.  Loneliness is the feeling of being alone and disconnected from others even in a crowded room. 

When feeling lonely, it may feel as though your loved ones don’t care enough to spend time with you. Loneliness may gradually lead to social isolation — when a person completely stops spending time with people.

People dealing with loneliness may not understand thoughts and emotions outside of their own. Even if someone is reaching out, those with chronic loneliness may not always recognize this as a positive gesture.

Why Do You Feel Lonely?

Many social factors play into how supported someone feels by the community around them. Traumatic life events may lead to loneliness for the first time in a person’s life. For example, natural disasters, chronic health condition diagnoses, and tragic accidents may all cause feelings of loneliness. 

Around the holidays, some may feel lonely when far away from family. Elderly adults often struggle with loneliness around this time, especially if health conditions make it harder for them to travel to others. Loneliness is most prevalent in elderly adults who may lack a sense of community.

For others, it’s not one event that makes them feel lonely. Mental distress and low self-esteem may make someone feel lonely even if they are surrounded by family and friends. Some people may have trouble processing their emotions and may not be aware that the feelings they are having are from loneliness.

How Does Loneliness Impact Your Health?

A decline in your mental health may lead to changes in your physical health too. Many people experience feelings of loneliness in old age when their physical health may already be suffering from preexisting conditions.

While the occasional loneliness happens to most people, elderly adults who experience loneliness are at an increased risk for certain health conditions and early death. Loneliness can increase your risk of neurological health conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

Distress from loneliness can lead to the development of a wide range of health conditions that impact people of all ages including:

• Depression

• Sleep apnea

• Anxiety

• Fatigue

• Type 2 diabetes

Does Chronic Loneliness Exist?

Chronic loneliness is not an official term for a mental health condition, but it’s one way to describe loneliness that never really goes away. Some people may feel loneliness from social factors in their life out of their control. For example, experiencing discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation can make someone feel isolated and lonely.

5 Things to Do When You Feel Lonely

1. Find public spaces to socialize with others

There is no one cure for loneliness. However, there are steps you can take in your daily life to continue to connect with others. Public libraries and parks are public spaces that provide you with free spaces to connect with others. Try reaching out to family and friends for a picnic in the park or for a group discussion in the library.

2. Carve out time to call loved ones

While in-person interaction is ideal for dealing with loneliness, taking time out from your schedule to call loved ones may help with loneliness. This may also help relieve stress from a busy schedule and life events.

3. Check in with yourself

Keep in mind that there may not be one solution to stopping feelings of loneliness. Not everyone needs to be surrounded by a group of people. It’s worth slowing down and taking time with yourself to internally process why you may be feeling the way you do.

4. Take time to journal

Some mental health experts recommend journaling to better process emotions. It’s also an opportunity to process emotions about past experiences that may be bothering you. This may include good memories that you may have forgotten about or traumatic experiences that are difficult to talk about out loud.

5. Join a club centered around an interest

There’s a club for almost anything you can’t stop talking about. Clubs may be a great way to meet new friends. If you have a special interest in a book, movie, or hobby, search online or around your community for clubs that interest you.

How to Cope with Loneliness

Be sure to reach out to a healthcare provider if loneliness is making it hard for you to get out of bed. They can help you find methods to deal with your loneliness and other emotions. Surrounding yourself with more people is not always the best way to avoid loneliness.

How LifeMD Can Help

If you find yourself struggling to process your emotions, LifeMD can help. Licensed healthcare providers at LifeMD may offer tips and suggestions for caring for your mental health.

Schedule an appointment today to learn more about managing feelings of loneliness.

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