How Loneliness is Damaging Our Health

Loneliness may negatively aspect many different parts of life, but fortunately, it is possible to overcome this problem. A comprehensive and effective campaign to end loneliness typically involves the following tips:

Engage in Volunteer Work

Volunteering for a cause you truly believe in can provide you with multiple benefits, such as meeting others, being a part of a group, and creating new experiences. Moreover, these activities can help you find a purpose and meaning in life and decrease loneliness. Some people also report feeling more satisfied and happier after actively participating in volunteer work and believe that doing so has helped them find gratitude for what they have in life.

Find Support Online

Loneliness continues to be a widespread issue, so plenty of people are looking for help and support online. Try connecting with these people, especially the ones with similar interests and mindsets, through various social media platforms. Try to be careful about who you meet over the internet and refrain from passing any personal information to them. Many online groups connect people with similar issues to help them find support.

Strengthen Existing Relationships

You probably have a lot of people in life that you can get to know better to combat loneliness. These can be colleagues from work or other family members. Consider calling friends more often and planning outings with them. Alternatively, arrange a get-together for your family members over the weekend to deepen your connections with them. If you lack the motivation to reach out to your loved ones, consider taking things slow and working on one relationship at a time. Start with a family member or friend you can easily and comfortably reach out to and watch your loneliness go down the drain with time.

Adopt a Pet

Pets, such as cats and dogs, can bring multiple benefits to their owners, one of them being the prevention of loneliness. Rescuing a pet brings additional benefits of companionship and altruism and provides people with a support system that does not break easily. Adopting a pet helps connect people with others, such as during dog walks. Pets also offer unconditional love, which can be a good salve for loneliness in people who are struggling to keep their social life alive.

Talk to Strangers

An easy way to establish new connections in daily life is by interacting with strangers or acquaintances you encounter on a day-to-day basis. Research proves that engaging in conversations and interactions with people you don’t know well can contribute to overall emotional and social well-being. So the next time you go to the cafeteria to grab a cup of coffee and find your neighbor in the queue, do not be afraid to strike up a conversation.

Practice Self-Care

One way to combat loneliness is by taking care of yourself in different ways. Self-care always seems like a good idea, but it can be particularly beneficial when someone is feeling down. Exercising, eating nutritious foods, and getting good sleep are simple examples of self-care that can make you slowly and steadily feel better. For a bonus, consider joining a gym or a fitness class as you practice self-care and find yourself around new people to interact with and build new relationships.

Keep Busy

One of the best ways to combat loneliness is by distracting yourself from these feelings. Try keeping yourself busy by pursuing a hobby you have always wished to do, such as taking up a home improvement project or gardening in your backyard. This exclusive activity can keep your mind busy and give you many other things to think about, even when you are not actively involved in it.

See a Therapist

Research suggests that loneliness can easily perpetuate the symptoms of depression which, in turn, may worsen the former. In simpler words, the lonelier you feel, the more depressed you get, and vice versa. In such circumstances, getting out of the house to meet new people or old friends may not feel useful at all. Sometimes, you may feel lonely even when you are around your loved ones, which could be a sign of underlying social anxiety or depression. If this is the case with you, it might be a good idea to combat loneliness by seeking psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy has been known to help people cope with feelings of loneliness, especially when they have simultaneous symptoms of depression. One of this psychotherapy, called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can help change negative thoughts and actions while replacing them with more positive ones. This therapy also allows them to experience less loneliness by equipping them with certain tools for recovery.