Have you ever felt lonely? As social human beings, we are all capable of experiencing loneliness at certain times of our lives. However, for some people, feeling lonely is not sporadic and is something that can last for long periods. This type of loneliness is much more common than we know. Loneliness has been tagged as one of the largest public health challenges in our world today.
Statistics reveal that one in three adults (ages 45 and older) experience loneliness regularly. Interestingly, young adults under the age of 30 as well as those in lower-income households (making less than $24,000 annually) suffer more loneliness than their older counterparts and those who have higher incomes. Not surprisingly, these numbers were higher during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
Types of Loneliness
Mental health experts indicate that loneliness is multi-faceted. For example, some believe that there are three types of loneliness which include the following:
Emotional loneliness occurs when a person feels that he or she lacks relationships or attachments. Examples of emotional loneliness may include the following: a person in a social group is the only one who does not have a romantic partner, you want someone to talk to but there is no one to contact, or you feel lonely for a close friend, parent, or sibling.
Social loneliness may happen when you lack a sense of belonging to a group beyond yourself. This may occur if you have a romantic partner but you don’t have a wider group for social support (other than your partner) or when you walk into a party where you don’t know anyone yet you don’t feel comfortable getting to know new people.
Existential loneliness is experienced when you feel generally disconnected from the world around you. This type of loneliness is often associated with feelings of meaninglessness and a lack of purpose in life.
Research indicates that loneliness - especially when there is social isolation (which occurs when there is a lack of social connection) - can negatively impact both physical and mental health. For example, it has been found that loneliness is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Studies also show that loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and other chronic conditions. In addition, there is evidence that loneliness is associated with increased mortality.
Loneliness is tough during the holidays because these times of year focus on gatherings with family and friends. For those who do not have many (or any) family members or friends with whom they can celebrate, it is easy to feel socially isolated and lonely. This can be even more challenging for individuals who have struggled with loneliness even before the holiday season.
So, what can be done to deal with loneliness? Below are some tips that may help:
Tips for Overcoming Feelings of Loneliness
1. Acknowledge that you struggle with loneliness. Then, realize and know that you are not alone in dealing with this. This can help you feel less overwhelmed by the experience of loneliness.
2. Resist the tendency to compare yourself to others. This is easy to do, especially with the advance of social media. Remember that what we see in people's lives, whether in real life or on social media, may not give a full or even accurate picture of what is going on in their lives.
3. Take active steps to draw closer to others. If you feel that you are not close enough to people, take baby steps to start reaching out to others more. For example, you can try to learn more about a particular person by asking them questions about themselves. Over time, you may even take the risk of sharing more about yourself with that individual. Choose one person with whom you can do this to start the process.
4. Spend more time in nature. There is scientific evidence to show that contact with nature can reduce feelings of loneliness.
5 Engage in volunteering. Research reveals that volunteering helps people less lonely and socially isolated. There is also evidence that when we volunteer we also find more purpose and meaning in life.
6. Join a group. This can be an art club, a book club, a civic organization, a church congregation, or any other group that will allow you to interact with other people.
7. Take proper care of yourself. For example, get adequate sleep, eat nutritious whole food, get regular physical exercise, develop your spiritual life, etc. These are just examples of adequate self-care. The better you care for yourself, the less your loneliness will contribute to deeper emotional or psychological concerns.
It should be noted that some people may need additional assistance in dealing with their loneliness. In such cases, it may be helpful to seek assistance from a health professional. You may even consider joining a church, where you can gain spiritual support. But, in general, if you implement the above steps, you will likely find that you will experience less loneliness.
Sources:
- www.psychologytoday.com July 2019.
- CDC Report, April 2019
- www.theguardian.com Dec. 2021
- www.newyorktimes.com. Dec. 2021
- Photo by Icon Ade