Mental Health Awareness Week - Loneliness

It is mental health awareness week this week and whilst I feel mental health should be prioritised daily this can allow creating new conversations and awareness around mental health and wellbeing. 

This year the chosen theme is loneliness which is a great theme as no one really talks about this. Being lonely is not the same as being alone. You can be in a room full of people and still feel lonely.

 

To be alone means to be physically separated from others, literally on your own. However, with loneliness, you feel emotionally alone and emotionally separate. 

There are many different reasons we may experience feelings of loneliness, new job, bereavement, relationship breakdown, new parent, situations at work or school, the result is usually the same feeling of sadness, detachment, and isolation from others with the idea that no one understands. 

Feelings of loneliness can be your brain's response that you need to connect with others, especially like-minded people, even though this may be the last thing that you feel like doing. This can motivate you to seek out support or like-minded people taking steps to reduce the feeling of loneliness. 

Have you ever felt lonely? 

What was happening to you when these feelings surfaced? 

What did you do or not do that you felt helped with these feelings? 

To combat these feelings it is important to identify the triggers as well as what we were able to do to reduce the feeling. 

Do things that make you feel good, being with others is not the only way to reduce loneliness. Finding new interests and hobbies is a great way to experience stability and connection. 

If there has been a specific incident or experience that has occurred that has triggered the sense of loneliness, you may feel no one understands reach out to a support group this can help provide information as well as support. Provide opportunities to share your experience that may allow you to feel heard and real sense of connection, a feeling of belonging, and that you are understood. This is so important as being silenced or not expressing your feelings can also lead to loneliness. 

Spend time in nature, perhaps get a pet while this may not be an option for everyone it has been shown to reduce loneliness and isolation.  

Find like-minded people, I am part of an online book club of women that are from different parts of Ireland, we get up early twice a week and chat, read and discuss the book we are reading these can be of any genre however the connection, relationship building and sense of belonging are not one I had anticipated though the impact it has had on all of us is so powerful we talk about it all the time. The days we connect and have book club can be the most productive days of the week.  

I encourage everyone to find what works for you and consistently make an effort. In a world where social media has many striving to be perfect, go against the grain and find your imperfect tribe, build relationships and enjoy connecting and prevent the loneliness that can impact us all. 

Emma Weaver

www.mentalwealthinternational.com