How to Deal With Loneliness
“I feel lonely.” Words we might find ourselves saying more than once in our lifetime.
With how the world is shifting, it’s easy for us to feel alone right now. We can only socialize with friends through screens and collaborate with workmates through emails. And most of us are probably away from our family. Life is completely different now because of the pandemic. It’s easy for us to feel alone. The social isolation brought by the pandemic increases our feeling of loneliness and mental health risk.
It’s hard. But what we assure you, there’s something you can do about it. And this feeling will end eventually.
What to do about loneliness?
So when things feel overwhelming, and there’s only loneliness, what should you do? Here, we share easy and practical tips to help you deal with loneliness.
- Be assured that it’s okay.
Acknowledge your emotions and know that what you’re feeling right now is okay. Be honest to yourself and other people whenever someone asks you. Say, “I feel lonely; I’m feeling alone.” That honesty and awareness will bring you clarity on how to deal with loneliness.
- Take a social media break.
Yes, social media can bring people together, but it can also make us feel alienated. Seeing everyone’s highlights will a FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) experience that will intensify our loneliness and mental health triggers. So take a break, have a social media detox, and consider deleting the apps from your phone.
- Plan for loneliness.
Loneliness is a human feeling. It comes and goes. So being prepared and planning can help you deal with it efficiently. Start by listing activities that you enjoy doing alone. It might be reading with your coffee, binge-watching Netflix in your bed with chips, or tapping your creativity by writing or drawing. Whatever it is, look at it as an opportunity to learn and get to know yourself deeper.
- Remember, it will pass.
Like all emotions, loneliness is temporary. Yes, they might come back, but what life promises is it will end. Change is the only constant rule of life. Know that things have their beginning and end, and emotions are temporary. Holding on to this belief means there’s hope that loneliness will somehow end.
- Consider going to therapy.
Even if it sounds scary or you feel resistance about it, asking for help is never a bad thing. There are times when we can’t handle things on our own. And when that happens, it’s okay to be vulnerable. Going to therapy gives you that opportunity—to be vulnerable without any judgment. Sometimes, we just need someone to listen to us and remind us that answers and wisdom are already within ourselves. To remind us that loneliness and being vulnerable is part of this journey we call life.
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