28/06/2023
We all experience loneliness to some degree but while loneliness is a universal human experience, there are things we can do to mitigate the effects of chronic loneliness. This can alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety and can even lead to improved physical health.
These include practical things we can do to alleviate feelings of loneliness and also a reframing of what it means to be solitary and a parsing of what may be best dealt with as separate factors such as rejection, grief and low self esteem.
With that in mind here are a few things we can do or different ways of thinking that may be useful:
Look for opportunities to build meaningful relationships with others, this might include joining social clubs or groups to make new relationships or ringing an old friend or family member to rekindle an old one
Curiously ask yourself what the circumstances of your feelings are, whether they might better be thought of in terms of grief, rejection or low self esteem and what this implies about our self image and finally whether this implication is true or useful.
Consider embracing the positive aspects of being alone which include an opportunity for mindful self reflection, pursuing hobbies or exercise or connecting with nature.
While loneliness can be difficult to overcome, these strategies can certainly help. However if you feel overwhelmed or unable to initiate these on your own, seeking professional help can take some of the pressure off of yourself and together you and your therapist can work together to identify and tackle the factors behind your mood.
