Loneliness can affect every one of us and may have already at some point in our lives.
Loneliness does not only mean feeling lonely when you are alone. A person could feel lonely even when you are amongst friends or family.
Loneliness is often associated with lack of connection and intimacy.
Suffering from loneliness , if it lasts a long time can have a toll on a person’s mental well-being. You don’t have to be on your own to experience loneliness. Your circumstances can lead to a lonely mindset such as losing a spouse, starting a new school or finding yourself alone when your children leave home.
Loneliness symptoms and signs can differ depending on person to person and the individuals personal situation. If a person is consistently feeling some or all of the following as listed below , they may be suffering from chronic loneliness
If they fail to connect with others on a deeper level. They may have friends and family in your life, but they only manage to engage with them at a surface level and don’t feel connected with them in any way.
They have no close family or friends. They may have casual friends or acquaintances but they feel that no one truly understands them.
They suffer from overwhelming feeling of isolation regardless of where they are and who’s around. They can be surrounded by a lot of people you yet they feel isolated and disengaged.
They have negative feelings of self-doubt and self-worth. They feel that they are useless and cannot do anything of any significance
They feel that they are not heard or seen.
They feel Exhausted and burnt out when trying to engage socially.
One of the best ways to avoid a sense of loneliness is to keep yourself busy. This is especially important if you are feeling depressed
Taking on a new hobby or joining a walking group, taking up a voluntary role in a charity shop to begin with can be a good idea. Helping yourself develop a positive mindset can be very useful.
Studies have found that people with mental health problems who take part in a meaningful activities help themselves to start living a meaningful life again.
Some of the things that can help towards having good mental well-being include
· Make social connections especially face-to-face
· Stay active
· Talk to someone
· Take up a relaxation practice
· Take up a new hobby
· Find a purpose and meaning
· Get help if you need it
Namita Bhatia
Cognitive Behavioural Therapist
07305595603