Everyone experiences loneliness here and there. It’s normal to feel this way sometimes. However, feeling an overwhelming sense of loneliness for an extended amount of time is not good for your mental or physical health. Whether you just had to move to a new city alone, went though a break up or feel isolated for reasons you can’t explain, it’s best to try and take action to fight against the lonely feelings before they arrive.
It’s no secret that loneliness is a scary and saddening feeling. No one likes feeling that they’re all alone. But loneliness is more than just a feeling—it can cause increased stress levels, depression, and altered brain function (brain fog). According to The Fit Indian, “chronic loneliness can mingle with normal brain functions and increase the risk of neurodegenerative disorders like dementia.” Smaller effects include antisocial behavior and poor decision making.
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and should be treated as such.
It’s important to pay attention to what our bodies tell us, and what’s happening in relation to what we’re feeling. According to Very Well Mind, loneliness can lead to many different negative effects on your health. It’s common that people experiencing high levels of loneliness may drink alcohol or engage in substance abuse as a way to cope, and everyday health can be affected too. Dr. John Cacioppo explains, “Lonely adults consume more alcohol and get less exercise than those who are not lonely. Their diet is higher in fat, their sleep is less efficient and they report more daytime fatigue. Loneliness also disrupts the regulation of cellular processes deep within the body, predisposing us to premature aging.”
Instead of waiting for these scary and serious effects to start to creep in, we can try to fight off the feelings before they arrive!
If you know you’re about to be living by yourself or someone close to you has recently left, it’s important to make sure you have someone you can turn to. One great way to do this is to get a furry friend! Having a pet to come home to each day is a great way to not feel lonely.
If a pet isn’t the way to go for you, try making some human connections. Ask your friends from home if they know someone in your new city, so you can have a social contact when you get there.
If you’re not moving a new city and are just feeling extra lonely, let your friends know. Ask them to spend some little extra time with you. There is no shame in admitting you’re lonely and asking for some TLC!
Odds are you have things in your life keeping you busy already, but when the feelings of loneliness creep in it’s important to keep extra busy. This assists with staying focused on other things and not thinking about feeling lonely. Do some research in your area. Maybe there’s a recreational kickball league you can join, or a part-time internship that’s PERFECT for you!
When we’re alone it’s easy to get swept up in our phones and social media, but that is actually doing the opposite of helping! Not only does it keep us glued to online social interactions instead of IRL ones, but it also enhances the risk of falling into the comparison rabbit hole. This can in turn make the feelings of loneliness (and jealousy) even worse. It’s important to stay focused on real life, and put ourselves out there to meet new people and have new experiences.
Last but not least, don’t wait until things get bad to reach out for help. If you know you’re starting to feel lonely, ask for help! There is nothing wrong with reaching out, and therapy will give you the tools you need to ensure you can combat the feeling of loneliness when it starts to creep in in the future.
