Loneliness can have a negative effect on your mental health.
We often associate loneliness with being physically alone, but that’s not always the case.
Mental health and loneliness are closely linked, and feeling lonely can significantly impact your mental well-being.
Here’s what you need to know about loneliness and mental health. First, loneliness is a feeling of social isolation and disconnection; when you feel lonely, it’s easy to feel disconnected from others and to have your emotional needs neglected.
Loneliness can significantly impact our mental health, although it is often not recognised or spoken about. Loneliness can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression and can be particularly damaging to our sense of self-worth and self-esteem. The more time we spend feeling lonely, the more likely it is that these negative feelings become a part of our lives.
How Does Loneliness Impact Our Mental Health?
- Loneliness can lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, and isolation.
- Loneliness can trigger or worsen mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
- Loneliness can cause physical health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and weakened immunity.
- Loneliness can increase the risk of premature death.
What are the physical effects of loneliness?
If you experience ongoing feelings of loneliness, it can adversely affect your physical health. For example, it could lead to weight gain, sleep deprivation, poor heart health, and a weakened immune system.
Loneliness can also put your body under more stress than usual. And chronic stress can take a physical toll on your body. For example, if you have a severe illness and are lonely, your condition could worsen.
Health Risks Associated With Loneliness
Loneliness has been linked with several health risks, including depression, anxiety, heart disease, and stroke. In addition, loneliness may affect people’s physical health in several ways.
For example, loneliness can lead to sleep problems. And sleep problems have been linked to numerous health risks, including weight gain and diabetes.
In fact, a study in the journal Sleep found that sleep problems were likely the number one cause of illness and death among UK adults between the ages of 50 and 79.
Loneliness may affect your immune system and increase your risk of getting a disease. A study in the British Medical Journal found that people who reported feeling lonely were more likely to report symptoms of depression, which can weaken their immune system.
What are some tips for dealing with chronic loneliness?
Chronic loneliness is a feeling of being isolated and alone, even when surrounded by people. It can be caused by many factors, including social anxiety, depression, and a lack of close relationships. Chronic loneliness can be a complex problem to deal with, but there are some things that you can do to help ease the feelings of loneliness.
- Understand what chronic loneliness is and how it can affect you.
- Learn about the different causes of chronic loneliness.
- Identify the people and activities that make you feel most lonely.
- Make an effort to connect with others, even in small ways.
- Seek professional help if your loneliness is affecting your quality of life.
How to cope with feeling lonely
If you’re feeling lonely, you can do a few things to cope. First, try to reach out to friends and family members. Spending time with loved ones can help alleviate feelings of loneliness. You can also try to get involved in activities that interest you. Doing things you enjoy can help take your mind off of feeling alone.
Additionally, try to be accepting of yourself. Remember that everyone feels lonely at times and that it’s okay to feel that way. Lastly, find ways to be active and engaged. Being involved in the community and staying engaged in work and school can help reduce feelings of loneliness.
What are the dangers of social isolation?
Loneliness and social isolation are serious public health risks affecting a significant number of older adults in the Uk and putting them at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions.
Social isolation is an independent risk factor for the development of dementia. The risk of dementia increases as the number of years spent socially isolated rises. Social isolation and loneliness are often confused with one another.
Although they share some common features, such as a tendency to feel disconnected or left out of social interaction, loneliness is not the same as social isolation.
The term social isolation is used to define a person who has limited social interaction with other people. To put it simply, a socially isolated person does not have a social network — he or she does not have a group of social contacts with whom they regularly interact.
A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) points out that more than one-third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated. Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.
Loneliness is the feeling of being alone, even when surrounded by people. Social isolation is a lack of social connections. Some people can feel lonely without being socially isolated, while others may feel isolated even when surrounded by people.
Loneliness and mental health risk factors
Although anyone can feel loneliness, certain risk factors can make it more severe and lasting, affecting our mental health. Loneliness is a risk factor for poor mental health, including depression and anxiety.
Risk Factors can also include:
- Being widowed
- Being single
- Being unemployed
- Living alone
- Having a long-term health condition or disability
- Living in rented accommodation
- Being between 16 and 24 years old
- Being a carer
- Being from an ethnic minority community
- Being LGBTQ+
Tips for overcoming loneliness
There are several things you can do to overcome loneliness. First, try to connect with others. Spend time with friends and loved ones, join social clubs or groups, or volunteer. Secondly, stay active and do things you enjoy. Third, get involved in activities that make you feel good and help you meet new people. Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help when you need it.
Help and advice on how to cope with loneliness and improve your mental health
Dealing with loneliness can be tough, but there are ways we can all cope with loneliness and prevent some of the negative feelings and mental health problems that can come with it. Here are some coping strategies that you might find useful.
1. Try to do some enjoyable things that will keep you busy
There are many ways to manage loneliness, one of which is keeping busy with activities we enjoy. This might include hobbies like gardening, going to the gym, or even organising your kitchen cupboards.
Other options include doing jigsaw puzzles, knitting, or other activities that you enjoy. Small activities can give you energy and positive feelings. It’s important these things are fun or fulfilling.
Be careful about working too hard or watching TV shows simply as a distraction. These will only delay or suppress your feelings and could actually make your mental health worse.
2. Try to do things that stimulate your mind
Activities that occupy your mind can help with loneliness. This can include the benefits of taking courses or listening to podcasts on topics from comedy to fitness. This can be stimulating and something as simple as listening to the familiar voice of someone you like can help you feel less lonely.
Listening to your favourite comedian or podcaster can have benefits beyond just entertainment value. In fact, familiar voices can help stimulate your mind and make you feel less lonely.
3. Think about doing a physical activity
Physical exercise can help with loneliness. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a walk in the park or listen to music and dance around your living room (being mindful of your neighbours).
4. Try to engage with the people you meet in your daily life.
When you’re feeling lonely, it can be hard to reach out and connect with others. However, making an effort to talk to the people you meet as you go about your day can be helpful.
Even making eye contact and saying “hi” to someone as you walk by can make you feel better. Or it could be about saying hello to the postman or going to the shop and talking to the person at the counter. By sharing a polite greeting – you might find you give someone else a positive lift too.
5. Find people that get you
When you’re feeling lonely, it can be hard to connect with others. But there are great benefits in finding people who have been through similar experiences to you. Belonging is often found in interacting with those who understand you. People who have been there have found connections in local groups or on social media.
6. Spend time with pets
If you’re lucky enough to have a pet, it can be a great way to manage loneliness. Not only do animals provide us with unconditional love and support, but they also help to give structure to our days and even encourage us to get out and connect with others, Interaction with pets is also shown to help reduce stress levels.
7. Try to use social media in a positive way
Social media can have a positive impact on your mental health. But it can also affect it negatively. The key to using social media in a positive way is finding digital communities that share your interests and passions. Most importantly, be aware of how you feel when you use social media, and focus on topics and activities that work best for you.
8. Talking therapies can help
Talking to a counsellor or therapist about your feelings can help you to cope with loneliness. If you can find a professional, talking therapy can really be of benefit. It’ll give you a safe place to work through your feelings and thoughts without judgement.
