Managing your well-being
Being alone has some important benefits in managing one’s well-being. In today’s busy world, we often find ourselves lacking the time and space to engage in self-care, which often involves spending time alone to reflect and rest. Being alone, however, is actually quite different than feeling lonely. Loneliness can be defined as having the lack of a social network, or only maintaining superficial connections. Loneliness naturally occurs from time to time, in various situations. As social creatures, humans require meaningful social connections to feel fulfilled and engage in healthier choices, not only for ourselves but also for our communities.
As of late however, loneliness has been labelled a major public health issue. Recent estimates show that almost 25% of Australian adults consider themselves lonely. With the recent pandemic affecting the various social support systems in our lives, this number is on the rise. This percentage may also be neglecting those who are more vulnerable to experiencing loneliness and lacking the resources to cope. These include single parents, people residing in rural areas, older adults lacking technological resources, those in minority groups, and those suffering from disabilities or mental health conditions.
Prolonged, intense loneliness can result in a variety of mental and physical health issues - from depression and anxiety, to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Those struggling with loneliness are also prone to having low energy levels, disrupted sleep, and greater stress levels. This is more common for those suffering from chronic loneliness, rather than circumstantial.
It is important to remember that not all hope is lost - most people can and do find ways to cope with loneliness and even break out of that cycle. Here are some tips to help you, or someone you know, manage loneliness:
Joining a class or group based on a hobby or interest. Often, local community centres have free and short classes. If your hobbies are mostly solitary activities, try picking up something new!
Volunteering. Volunteering has been linked to increased feelings of connection and self-worth and is a great way to meet like-minded people with similar values of compassion.
Therapy - loneliness if often linked to social anxiety and depression. Therapy can provide a safe space to learn how to open up to others, train social skills, as well as work through present fears surrounding garnering a social network.
Talk to someone about how you feel - Call Listening Ear at 0294776777
And most importantly, take it slow - those suffering from chronic loneliness often feel anxiety and helplessness surrounding forming new connections. Remind yourself that any small step towards being socially present is a good step in looking after yourself.
Globally, this past holiday season certainly very different for many. We can all take a step to reach out to those suffering from loneliness who may feel even more of a struggle to cope after the particularly difficult holiday season and offer them some support.
Written by Nissa January 2021