According to the latest Healthy Minds Monthly Poll from the American Psychiatric Association (APA), early in 2024, 30% of adults reported feeling lonely at least once a week over the past year, while 10% said they experienced loneliness every day.
Loneliness is gradually becoming a pandemic in our society, and this can be attributed to various factors such as social media, broken families, personality disorders, etc. In the section below, we will explore various ways we can handle loneliness in our daily life.
What Does Loneliness Look Like?
Loneliness often feels like you're always on your own, cut off from others, and unable to form meaningful connections. It can come with a sense of self-doubt, low self-esteem, or social anxiety.
When you're lonely, it’s common to feel anxious, down, or struggle to find the motivation to do everyday things. Feeling worried, withdrawn, or just not yourself are important signals that you might not be feeling as good as you could. 
Participating in any group or club is a good way of getting to connect and know new people as well as be associated with like-minded people. Seek out face-to-face or online groups that are concerned with sports, hobbies, or other things that align with your interests and personality.
Signs and Symptoms of Loneliness
Loneliness can look different depending on your situation, but if you’re experiencing some of the following feelings regularly, you might be experiencing the feeling of loneliness:
- Struggling to connect deeply with others: You may have people in your life, but your interactions feel shallow, and the lack of deeper connection feels never-ending.
- Lack of close friendships: You might have friends, but they’re more like casual acquaintances, and you feel like no one truly understands you.
- Feeling isolated, no matter where you are: Even in a crowded room, at work, or in busy places, you still feel cut off and alone, like you’re in your own bubble.
- Constant self-doubt and low self-worth: You often feel like you’re not enough, and this feeling lingers over time.
- Reaching out without connection: When you try to connect with others, it feels like your efforts aren’t reciprocated, leaving you feeling unseen and unheard.
- Social exhaustion: whenever you make an attempt to be social you feel drained, which can lead to other issues like sleep problems, a weakened immune system, or a poor diet.
Among many others, here are also some prevalent symptoms of loneliness
- Poor attention span
- Poor appetite
- Constant feelings of low self-esteem and self-doubt
- Frequent illness
- Muscle pain
- Abusing drugs
- Increased screen time and desire to binge movies
- Constant feelings of restlessness and anxiety
What are the Causes of Loneliness?
The cause of loneliness can not be attributed to one thing, there are many reasons we might feel lonely, and sometimes there isn't a clear cause—it’s just how we feel. Below are some major reasons we might be feeling lonely:
- Situational Variable: Situations like being physically isolated, moving to a new place, or going through a divorce can make you feel lonely. Losing someone important in your life can also bring on feelings of loneliness.
- Psychological Disorder: Depression is a psychological disorder that often makes people withdraw from social interactions, leading to isolation. Research also shows that loneliness can play a role in worsening depressive symptoms.
- Personality Type: Personality can also play a part in the feeling of loneliness. For example, introverts might not actively seek out social connections, which can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
- Poor Self-Identity: Loneliness can also stem from internal factors like low self-esteem. When people lack confidence, they might feel unworthy of others' attention, which can lead to isolation and long-term loneliness.
Practical Ways to Dealing with Loneliness
Because of the large influx of information and opportunities online, one can easily get swamped and overwhelmed, rather than feeling connected, you can be left feeling lonely and isolated most of the time. Here are ways to deal with the feeling of loneliness.
1. Have Your People
Regardless of your personality type, build a healthy community around you, it could be 2–5 people you feel comfortable with or relatable with. No one is an island; we are inherently social beings and even introverts need people to be introverted with.
Loneliness is not the appearance of staying alone, it is a feeling of neglect, You can be with people who genuinely love you and still experience loneliness, so rather than surrounding yourself with a multitude of people. It is ideal to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share similarities with you on a larger scale.
2. Become a Part of Something
If you are already in a particular group, then attempt to make introductions to the rest of the group, including those who may be less assertive or even at least somewhat socially inept. I can tell you it will make a huge difference for them and you.
3. Do Things You Love
Doing things you enjoy can help take your mind off loneliness and improve your well-being. Also, spending time outdoors, exercising, reading, or listening to podcasts and radio shows are all great ways to lift your mood and keep your mind engaged.
Additionally, it is important to note that what you love might not be materialistically productive, it could be painting, dancing, singing, reading, or even serving others, however, it can drastically enhance your well-being.
4. Permit Yourself to be Vulnerable
This is the difficult part of most relationships, the ability to be unapologetically open, and bare to yourself and others is scary but it is also cathartic. It is actually very effective to speak about your lonely feelings to your friends and those around you.
However, only open up to those who have earned the right to see your vulnerability and people who you are sure can tolerate you and let you be in the moment. It can be more detrimental to be vulnerable to the wrong kind of people, rather than feeling uplifted, you will end up feeling worse than you did even before going to them. Therefore, while being vulnerable, do it with people who can let you be completely human.
5. Leave Your Comfort Zone
Consider reaching out to others with shared similarities, one of the easiest connections to make is by starting a conversation with random people. Studies have proven that small interactions enhance our social and emotional health.
Thus, the next time you walk to get coffee or have a stroll, make sure you take your time and try to initiate a conversation with people you encounter, as it makes the day a little brighter. If you are one of those people who can frequently glance at their smartphone no matter where they are at the moment, perhaps, it would be better to put it away, whenever you are outdoors.
6. Plane Activities With a Friend
There are plenty of free or low-cost activities you can enjoy throughout the year with someone around you. Consider inviting someone to join you and explore the many affordable events happening around the country. You can visit various attraction centers with a friend in Nigeria, from budget-friendly theater tickets and free exhibitions to fun family activities.
7. Plan a Get-Together
Organizing a party is one of the best ways to mitigate loneliness and create a genuine connection. Regardless if you are just creating a general get-together or a network affair, paying attention to how people feel about the event can significantly impact the event.
Get your friends, your families, or even strangers to participate, and ensure that you pick games that will require interaction. Bringing people together is a way of forming connections, which makes a particular group feel as if they belong.
8. Practice Self-Care
When you're feeling lonely, make sure you're also taking care of yourself in other ways. Self-care is crucial, especially when you're feeling down. Self-care is not overindulgence or spree routine, normalizing doing things that enhance your well-being, for instance, you can cook yourself healthy meals or get fit.
Physical activity can drastically improve your mental well-being and can even boost your self-esteem. Also, you can consider, spending more time in nature—it can lift your spirits and help ease the feeling of loneliness. Eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep can really help improve your mood and overall well-being.
Conclusion
Loneliness is not a state of being alone, it is an overwhelming feeling of feeling alone, which can be triggered by different reasons. However, you can incorporate the tips highlighted above, such as building a supportive community, engaging in activities you love, practicing self-care, etc.
Everyone at one point experiences the feeling of loneliness. Still, by making small changes in your daily routine and taking proactive steps, you can foster meaningful connections and improve your well-being.
FAQs
1. Where is loneliness held in the body
Stress is mostly stored as calories or stressed hormones. When you're feeling lonely, your stress hormone levels, like cortisol, tend to increase. This slows your body's metabolism, which causes you to experience weight gain.
2. Where does loneliness come from
Loneliness is a complex state of mind that can originate from major life changes, mental health issues, low self-esteem, and certain personality traits.
3. What does loneliness look like?
Loneliness is marked by persistent feelings of feeling alone, disconnected from others, and unable to form deep connections. It often comes with deep-seated self-doubt, low self-esteem, or social anxiety.
4. How does loneliness affect the brain?
Loneliness can have a severe impact on both mental and physical health and contribute to cognitive decline. Also, it’s closely connected to depression, a condition that also raises the risk of developing dementia.
5. Which color represents loneliness?
In some cultures, the color blue symbolizes sadness, loneliness, and depression, which is why we have the phrase "the blues."
