Coping with Loneliness
Overcoming and Coping with Loneliness
Loneliness is a feeling of sadness, isolation and separation. It's like you are at a different place, so alone and isolated from everyone else and nobody seems to care about your existence. When the lonely feeling and emptiness become so overwhelming, it can lead to depression and affect your physical and mental health.
If you have lost someone through death, divorce or a break up and are still grieving, you will most likely feel sad and lonely. Feeling lonely in marriage is also common when there is no longer any communication or intimacy. Suffering from a mood disorder is also one of the causes of loneliness. Other reasons for feeling lonely include working from home all alone, experiencing the empty nest syndrome and having low self esteem or self worth.
Tips for Coping with Loneliness
Connect with People
Go out and meet people. Join outdoor pursuits or group activities or volunteer to do something. Do things together with your family members and friends such as gift shopping, dancing, exercising or just talking. If you are jobless, get a job so that you can spend time with people. If you work from home, change your working environment once in a while.
Get a Hobby
There are numerous stimulating things that you can do to divert your mind from feeling bored or sad and lonely. Find a pleasurable hobby such as gardening or jewelry making.
Learn a New Skill or Further Your Education
Learning opens your mind to something new and different. It also stimulates your brain cells and keeps you engrossed. Going back to school as an adult has several benefits such as the opportunity to make new friends and increase your chances of career advancement.
Find a Support System
There are many support groups, forums or networks and chat rooms online to get help and talk. You can also choose to join support groups or organizations to get help and meet people.
Open Up
The next tip for coping with loneliness is to open up and share your thoughts and feelings with others. It's good to talk and let go off those bottled up emotions. Sometimes people don't approach you because you put up the unfriendly stance and are aloof. Smile and become friendlier and people will respond positively.
Enjoy Solitude
If you find yourself spending a lot of your time by yourself, learn to enjoy the solitude. Alone time is a good opportunity for self discovery which you can gain through contemplation, meditation, prayer and journal writing.
Build Your Self Esteem
When your self esteem is low, you will feel unworthy. This is one of the reasons why you spend too much time sitting alone at home watching television, surfing the internet or sleeping instead of being in the presence of others. Some people turn to drugs or alcohol. The obvious solution is to build your self esteem and self confidence.
>See a Therapist
If you have been diagnosed with a mood or depressive disorder or have suicidal thoughts, see a therapist or get professional help.
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