How To Cope With Loneliness During COVID
Tips from a therapist
We are social creatures by nature. We cannot deny that most of us long to have meaningful connections with others.
Some of us may try to convince ourselves that we are better off alone, but do not be surprised if you eventually begin to experience conflicting thoughts about that idea.
It is also important to note that although loneliness is not a mental illness it is correlated with mental illnesses. For example, individuals that struggle with social anxiety may isolate themselves to avoid their symptoms. In other cases, people that, for whatever reason, have had to phase social isolation end up developing a mental illness.
There are various causes to struggling with loneliness, but recently, The COVID pandemic has been the winner. The pandemic has, without a doubt, taken a toll on our mental health, and the common denominator is the lack of social contact and distant relationships.
Several people have lost or ended relationships. Friendships have faded away. Kids are becoming apathetic and unmotivated due to being at home all day without interacting with people. Couples have gone through ups and downs by being confined to their four walls. Many people had to put a hold on their hobbies and activities that made a difference in their lives.
If you find yourself struggling with loneliness and apathy, you are not alone!
I am a Licensed Therapist at BetterHelp, and I am here to share helpful steps to encourage you to assess your situation and proactively combat feelings of loneliness.
Steps to Attack Loneliness
- Accept that you feel lonely and that it is a universal feeling
- Write it down / Journal
- What does loneliness feel like to you?
- When do you feel lonely the most?
- Do you feel uncomfortable around others? Do you feel uncomfortable with yourself when alone?
- If you could choose, what would you instead do when feeling lonely?
- What makes your situation worse?
- What are the outcomes of loneliness?
3. Observe your behavior and attitudes. Ask yourself if there are any improvements that you can work on.
4. Attempt to connect with others.
- Talk to a therapist
- Reach out to someone who is a safe listener
- Sign up for support groups
5. Take care of your wellbeing:
- Try to get enough hours of sleep
- Watch your diet
- Engage in physical activity
- Spend time outdoors
- Get close to animals
- Avoid drugs and alcohol
6. Get involved in something that’s meaningful to you
- Join a Patreon subscription or discord group that provide something meaningful to you
- Join webinars or groupinars
- Find a group in meetups
- Join a Facebook group of your interest
- Volunteer
- Learn a new skill / Take a course at Udemy
It’s okay to feel lonely sometimes. It’s okay to want space and avoid distractions. The problem is when loneliness gets in the way of proper functioning and quality of life, or when you are withdrawing from society because you feel numb (and you are not trying to get out of there). It is also a problem when you let your mental illness take the best out of you.
Take a moment to determine whether your loneliness is a problem that is taking a toll on your functioning. Be honest (with yourself) if you need human connections, and if you do, reach out.
We are here for you!
Daniela Marin | Licensed Therapist | Founder of HealingRight | Patreon