Please accept my apologies for not writing you last week. My ADHD has recently taken a physical and mental toll on me. So, to make up for last week, I’m going to write to you twice this week.
We talked about the mental health spectrum a couple of weeks ago. As we all know, mental health encompasses more than just mental illness. It encompasses how you think, feel, and act. So, don’t neglect your mental health. It is a component of your overall health. Therefore, it is necessary to prioritise your mental health.
Today’s post will be about loneliness and its relationship to our mental health. Grab some popcorn and settle in for a good read.
It’s no doubt that we’ve all experienced feelings of loneliness at some point in our lives. Loneliness is a personal experience, so each person’s experience will differ.
Loneliness is commonly described as the feeling we have when our need for rewarding social contact and relationships is not met. However, loneliness is not always synonymous with isolation or being alone.
Being alone, in other words, does not cause loneliness. You can be surrounded by a large number of people and still feel lonely. As a result, it is critical that we do not misinterpret the concept of loneliness.
While loneliness reminds us of our pain and warns us of the dangers of becoming isolated, it is a key indicator of social well-being and is caused by the absence of a specific needed relationship or set of relationships.
Impacts of loneliness
Loneliness has been extensively researched in terms of its impact on physical health. For instance, a meta-analytic review found that loneliness is associated with higher mortality rates and that its impact is comparable to that of well-established risk factors like obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity.
In longitudinal studies, loneliness is also associated with the development of coronary heart disease and stroke, as well as a faster rate of increase in systolic blood pressure and the onset of fatigue and pain.
However, until recently, loneliness had not been a prominent focus in research on the outcomes of mental illness. Psychosis, depression, and increases in depressive symptoms, personality disorders, suicide, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and impaired executive control have all been linked to loneliness.
But really, is loneliness a mental health problem?
Our desire for quality relationships can be traced back to the earliest humans and our hunter-gatherer societies, when groups relied on one another and no one could survive on their own. Human survival depends on attachments to caregivers even today, as babies and throughout childhood.
Therefore, loneliness is not in and of itself a mental health issue, but the two are inextricably linked. Being lonely is more likely if you have a mental health problem.
How do you deal with loneliness?
While it can be difficult to make new and meaningful connections, especially during a pandemic, the following activities can help you cope with loneliness.
- Do some community service or volunteer
When you are isolated or socially excluded, you may feel as if you have no purpose or value. Therefore, giving back to your community can make your life more meaningful, and you’ll probably meet some like-minded people with whom you can connect.
- Don’t expect the worse from yourself or people
Because loneliness can change your thinking which also affects your mental health, it’s common to anticipate that social interactions will go poorly. However, always expect the best and worst from a situation and avoid making the worst of yourself. Learn from others, discard any information you don’t want to use, and enjoy the moment.
- Focus on meeting quality people
It’s important to understand that not everyone you meet will become a friend. As a result, it’s critical that you maintain that mindset while being open to meeting new people. Please go out and meet people if you can do so safely (with your mask and sanitiser). Make it a point to attend a party or event where you will meet new people at least once a month, if possible.
- Join a group that does what you enjoy doing
While loneliness and depression may make us feel less motivated to pursue activities we once enjoyed, spending time with people who share our interests allows us to do so. If possible, join a group that can help you stay happy by motivating you to do what you enjoy the most.
Your mental health is critical if you want to succeed in school, at work, or in whatever else you do. As a result, deal with loneliness whenever it comes knocking because humans are not designed to be overly reliant on themselves. We rely on one another. So, respect others and enjoy their company.