It’s Loneliness Awareness Week (9th-15th June) and this year’s theme is meeting loneliness together. It’s all about reducing the stigma around loneliness. It’s about knowing how to handle situations of feeling lonely as it can be so easy to forget how easy it is to get to a place of loneliness and how it affects people of all ages.
Loneliness doesn’t have any limits, it can pop up at any moment. Most people think that it’s being physically alone but having lots of friends and a big social circle doesn’t mean you won’t feel lonely as well. It’s knowing how you can overcome this loneliness that is important.
Overcoming Loneliness;
~ Creating a support system
There is nothing to feel ashamed about when it comes to loneliness and knowing how and to whom you can reach out when the time comes is an important part of reducing loneliness. It can be anyone from a professional or someone closer to home such as a family member or friend.
This support system can be whatever you like it to be. It can be there for when you need to talk about your feelings or for when you just want to spend time with family and friends. It can allow you to become more connected with others, even when you aren’t physically with them.
~ Using your spare time wisely
There will be times when you’ll have time to yourself and knowing what to do with that time can be difficult. It’s ok to allow yourself time to relax and to decompress from your day but you can incorporate doing things that you enjoy into this time. Keeping your mind and body active allows you to focus on something that is separate from loneliness.
Doing something with your spare time doesn’t always mean doing something with others. It’s ok to have time to yourself and not always be doing something with every spare moment you have. It’s how you handle that and learning how you can be comfortable with your own company that can help you overcome your loneliness.
~ Becoming aware of your emotions
When it comes to emotions, there are times where something can cause that emotion to happen. Knowing what those causes are can help you know how to handle those emotions when they do occur. Is it that you feel lonely when you feel like you don’t fit in, when you see what other people are doing and you’re not doing that thing, or even when you find yourself alone?
Pinpointing what the cause can help you create a plan on making it easier for you to overcome your feelings. It is important to remember that it’s ok to feel your feelings, there’s nothing to feel ashamed about and to make sure that you reach out for help when you need it.
Overcoming loneliness can take time so make sure that you go at your own pace. It can be an overwhelming emotion and making sure that you are taking care of yourself throughout is important. It’s a journey and loneliness can come in waves but in the end, you can create new connections, find new coping mechanisms and become better at being in your own company.