Loneliness- How to Cope

Loneliness is a feeling. You can feel very lonely even while being with other people. On the flip side, you can feel great and not feel lonely even when you are alone. Thus, feeling lonely is a state of mind.

When you feel lonely, ask yourself why you are feeling this way. A lot of the time when a person feels lonely, it is because they have negative feelings about themselves or they are upset about something.

Further, it is easy to have feelings such as loneliness when we compare ourselves to other people and the lives that we believe they may have.  

Try not to compare your life to someone else’s life. Everyone has challenges in life. Some are just not as visible as others. 

When you feel lonely, it can often lead to feeling sad and depressed. When this happens, people often react by withdrawing even more from others and then they feel sorry for themselves.

So, it is important to ascertain why you feel lonely first of all. This can hep you to understand your feelings better. 

A good way to do this is to journal. 

Once you acknowledge why and what triggered your feelings of loneliness, tell yourself that you can change this feeling! 

First of all, change your thought process. Tell yourself that you will be okay and that there are ways to feel better.

Here are some suggestions to combat feeling lonely:

Positive self-talk
Staying active 

Volunteering

Join a class – (church, educational, hobbies, mental health, dance)

Join a group of some type (meet ups, support groups, self-help)

Get a pet

Build existing relationships in your life

List your passions and interests and start pursuing them

Talk to someone when you are feeling sad and lonely

Count your blessings

Being socially isolated is not healthy emotionally or physically. Be creative and put yourself out in the world. Even if you are not a friendly person and no matter your age, you can still find different ways to meet new people and to be more sociable!

GET UP, DRESS UP, SHOW UP, and smile at someone!! 

Work on improving your self-esteem and self-worth. Start with working on self-care. When you feel better about yourself then you will feel friendlier which will draw others to you. 

Also, remember that emotional pain is only temporary. Take a deep breath, get some sunshine, and make the decision to make a change. If you need help, please talk to someone!

Engage in activities that will promote your positive self-image and tell yourself that you can and will conquer these sad feelings! 

It all starts with you and your mind set. Change your attitude and then your actions.

If you know the Lord, you can also go to Him. Give Him your pain. He will give you peace and comfort. If you do not know the Lord, I want to encourage you to talk to someone who can help you to invite Him into your heart and life. 

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

                                   Blog Website LivingWithHopeCounseling.com