Do you ever feel lonely?…
We all need to feel connected to other people. Loneliness is the unsettling feeling we get when this need is not being met. We might feel like this because we're not having much contact with other people, or because the contact we are having doesn't feel meaningful to us.
But loneliness is different from being alone. For lots of people, being alone does not cause loneliness or feelings of isolation. Many people choose to spend time alone or don’t feel the need to have many social relationships. Whereas for others this can be a lonely experience. We're all different, which is what makes us unique. When it comes to loneliness, it’s all about what feels right or wrong for you.
Loneliness is not a mental health condition, but it can start to affect our mental health. Experiences of loneliness can make us feel sad, depressed, or give us feelings of low self-esteem. Having a mental health problem can also make you more likely to experience loneliness. Sometimes, if we are already struggling with our mental health, it can feel difficult for us to interact with loved ones in the way we usually do. This can then make us feel isolated and lonely when we didn’t feel this way before. But life doesn’t have to be this way; if you’re feeling lonely, there are things you can do to feel better.
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Spending time alone might not seem fun, but the more time you spend doing things you enjoy and being kind to yourself, the more confident you will feel. It’s okay to have time just for yourself.
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It is important to have ways to express yourself, even if right now you don’t have people close to you who you can talk to. Keeping a journal can help you to track your mood and reading over it might help you to see things that keep happening in your life which you might need some help with. Some people like to express themselves through drawing, painting, music, fashion or sport.
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You don’t have to be good at something to give it a go and enjoy it. A regular hobby with other people can help you build new friendships and have fun. It can feel really nerve-wracking to turn up to a new place, especially if the people already know each other, but you’re likely to find people who are very happy and willing to help you settle in. Maybe volunteer This can be a great way to increase social interaction while also learning a new skill and giving back to your community. It can help you to feel good about yourself and meet people passionate about the same things as you.
There are certain times in your life when you might be more likely to feel lonely. This might be when things are changing in your life, such as moving to a new city, a relationship or friendship ending, or a bereavement. Sometimes you can feel lonely even if you are around lots of people in a social situation, or if you have lots of friends – especially if you feel like the people around you don’t understand you. But remember that lots of people experience loneliness for lots of different reasons, and there are things you can do if social isolation is affecting your mental health.
When you may feel lonely…
You might experience loneliness when you:
start a new school, university or place of work and are finding it hard to make friends
go through something that your peers haven’t or are unable to relate to
feel very different from your peers or people around you
aren’t able to do the things you see others doing
are struggling with your sexuality or gender identity
Social Media can also make you feel lonely and isolated, especially if you are being bullied or feel disconnected from the ‘perfect lives’ you see.
Even if you have loads of followers, it can feel like everyone else is surrounded by friends and loved ones and having a good time; this can make things feel much harder when you are feeling alone and not sure who to turn to for support. But remember that what you see on social media isn’t always real.