Loneliness
Loneliness is the state of distress or discomfort that results when one perceives a gap between one’s desires for social connection and actual experiences of it. Even some people who are surrounded by others throughout the day—or are in a long-lasting marriage—still experience a deep and pervasive loneliness.
Loneliness is a universal emotion that many of us experience at times, whether you lack companionship in your daily life, feel left out and without a connection to those around you, or you’ve moved across the country away from family and friends.
Symptoms –
Symptoms of loneliness vary depending on what’s causing it and the person’s individual circumstances. But loneliness often involves the following –
• Feelings of sadness, emptiness, discomfort, or disconnectedness
• Feeling left out or isolated from others
• A longing for companionship
• Feeling like you’re misunderstood or not heard
• Feeling isolated even when you’re surrounded by others
• Feeling exhausted or burnt out by social interactions
• Feeling insecure
• Ruminating and reminiscing on the past
More severe symptoms of loneliness can include:
• Decreased energy
• Insomnia, trouble falling asleep, or sleeping more than usual
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Withdrawal from social events
Causes –
Loneliness can happen for a number of reasons. For example, you might feel lonely if you:
• change schools or jobs
• work from home
• move to a new city
• end a relationship
• are living alone for the first time
As you adjust to these new circumstances, feelings of loneliness may pass, but sometimes they persist. It’s not always easy to talk about feeling lonely, and if you have a hard time reaching out to others, you might feel even more alone.
Health risks with loneliness –
Loneliness has a wide range of negative effects on both physical and mental health, which includes –
• Alcohol and drug misuse
• Altered brain function
• Alzheimer’s disease progression
• Antisocial behavior
• Cardiovascular disease and stroke
• Decreased memory and learning
• Depression and suicide
• Increased stress levels
• Poor decision-making
How to overcome or prevent loneliness –
These efforts can help you prevent loneliness or overcome feelings of loneliness –
• Acknowledge How You’re Feeling – While feelings of loneliness may be alarming, they’re a signal for you to take action. It is just like thirst is a signal that you need more hydration, loneliness can be viewed as a signal that you need more human connection.
• Make time for family & friends – Don’t shy away from picking up the phone to catch up with an old friend or asking your family to get together on the weekend. Or send a text. Apps like Skype, Snapchat, and Facebook Messenger let you send video clips or communicate through video.
• Get Creative – Whether you like drawing, listening to music, dancing, or anything else creative, turning to the arts can reduce feelings of loneliness.
• Embrace hobbies you enjoy – Making time for activities you love is a great form of self-care. It reignites your passions, taps into your creativity, and gives you something to look forward to. Hobbies can also help us reinforce connections with our social network.
• Get outdoors – Getting outside and doing physical activity are both mood boosters, so heading outdoors can help with banishing some of the negative feelings associated with loneliness.
• Adopt a pet. Having another living creature to come home to could help your life feel fuller, and increase your feelings of connection to the world in general.
• Try Volunteering or Helping Your Community – Acts of kindness go a long way in reducing loneliness and fostering social connection
• Seek Help- Whether you choose to confide in a loved one or prefer to sign up for group therapy or individual counseling session. People who have used organization’s intensive programs that provide support groups reported feeling better about their confidence and managing their loneliness within just a few sessions.
For more informative articles on Psychological health and other health related issues, please visit our website www.santripty.com and also feel free to consult with our experienced team of doctors, get benefits and stay healthy.