Managing Loneliness
Loneliness has been growing in adults in the United States over the past several years. With the invention of social media, loneliness was supposed to decrease as people had more access to each other. However, social media has increased our feelings of disconnect from others. Loneliness is now considered a public mental health and physical health epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In a survey completed by Cigna in 2020, 60% of adults reported feeling lonely.
The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened our feelings of loneliness and isolation. Quarantining and limited social gatherings for several years has led to increased feelings of loneliness and feeling cut off from the ways we would have normally interacted with others. Three years later people are still struggling to resume activities and connect with others in meaningful ways.
Loneliness can have a negative impact on physical and emotional health. People experiencing loneliness can have worsening depression, anxiety, mood disorders and cognitive decline. Sleep and appetite can also be impacted by loneliness. In addition to mental health, loneliness can impact our physical health. People experiencing loneliness are at an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and premature death from all causes according to the CDC.
Loneliness does not impact all people equally. Those in minority groups, people with lower incomes, members of the LGBTQ+ community, young adults and parents are more likely to be lonely than those people not associated with any of these group.
While loneliness can feel overwhelming, there are some things we can do to help manage and decrease loneliness. Here are some small ways to start combating loneliness:
Limit screen time and social media: This may seem counterproductive to limit sources of online support; however, spending too much time online can increase loneliness. Pay attention to how you feel when you are scrolling social media. If it makes you feel worse, try to limit your time.
Volunteer: Find a cause that is near and dear to your heart. Spending time doing something that matters to you can help decrease feelings of depression and anxiety. You also can start to build your support network by meeting likeminded people.
Reach out to people already in your support network: Often when we feel lonely, we forget about people we already have connections with. Take time to identify who is in your support network and make sure to reach out to keep those connections strong.
Join a class or club: Sometimes it’s hard to know where to even meet people. Joining a class or club allows you a place to start. Like with volunteering, this gives you somewhere to meet like-minded people who enjoy similar activities.
Be kind to yourself: Make sure you are taking time to take care of yourself. Try to be thoughtful about how you spend downtime and identify healthy avenues for you.
Seek out professional help: Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Counselors are uniquely trained to help people navigate difficult situations and identify solutions to help manage mental health. Resolve has many therapists who would be able to help you navigate ways to decrease loneliness and isolation. Reach out today to schedule an appointment!