Loneliness has the same impact as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. If you feel lonely, then it is important to overcome loneliness before it leads to severe health issues. IFORHER has launched well-researched yet easy to read resources to help you fight loneliness in the most effective way!
LOVE is the antidote to LONELINESS.
The feeling of being in love not only helps us overcome loneliness but also makes us feel better. Not only for loneliness, but Love could be the best remedy for many diseases.
We are wired to feel connected with our self, surroundings, and people.
We need someone to talk to and to feel connected. We want to make bonds with people whom we find interesting and understanding. And the love that we crave for, doesn’t need to be born out of physical attraction. It could be based on mutual respect and care.
Love for self, Love for family, Love for friends are some form of Love that we need to have to get rid of loneliness.
In the absence of love, we feel vulnerable – physically as well as mentally.
For instance, in old age, people feel more lonely as they’re at home the whole day, while their children are at work. They do not have close family ties or are not connected with their social groups as they have moved to stay with kids.
One of the common myths about building bonds or feeling connected is the fact that one can feel connected virtually with everyone on social media.
Establishing a connection on social media is not enough. One has to connect with people personally to get that feeling of understanding and love.
On the contrary, staying connected on social media could enhance the feeling of loneliness. As we indulge ourselves in looking at the “HAPPY FACES” on social media, we tend to feel lonelier. We crave for affection and bond, hence leading to the feeling of dissatisfaction.
Apart from the absence of love, people might feel lonely because of these reasons as well:
• Social isolation
• Living alone
• Death of a loved one
• Health issues
… and many more
How To Overcome Loneliness
While for some talking with friends is the best therapy to overcome loneliness, for others it can be a long walk with their siblings.
Though there are various ways to overcome loneliness, these are the top 10 most effective ways that have worked for millions of others to overcome loneliness.
1. Start socializing
First and the foremost way to tackle loneliness is to start interacting with people. Interaction doesn’t include online chatting, it means talking with people in-person to establish a strong connection and bond among.
In today’s rapidly changing world, face-to-face interactions are on the verge of getting extinct. Therefore it is the urgent need of the hour that one should connect with others on a deeper level to avoid loneliness.
2. Connect with your community
A variety of programs are organized by schools, colleges, institutions, companies, government to help people get close to each other. By participating in these programs, one can connect with many others of similar interests. Marathons, Raahgiri Day or Swatch Bharat Abhiyaan are some of the interest-based communities that you can get involved.
3. Start volunteering
Volunteering not only helps you to connect with people but also gives a chance to engage in activities that you are passionate about. While working, you’ll connect with people that are into the same interest zone as you are, which will help you to connect with them easily.
4. Join online groups
The Internet offers us a great platform to connect with people with similar interests. It’s easier not only connect with those people but also to share our views. Many people tend to overcome loneliness by joining the groups of their interests and then personally connecting with people with the same taste.
5. Organize meet-ups
Organize frequent meet-ups with your friends with whom you have not been in touch for a while. You can also arrange meetings with your online friends to know them better on a personal level. Meetings not only helps you to know more about others but also helps you in establishing the connection to overcome the problem of loneliness.
6. Adopt a pet
Welcoming a pet into your life helps to heal loneliness as you would have someone with you all the time. You can talk to them, feed them, go for a walk with them, love them and get love in return. Dogs and cats are regarded as the best companions to share your feelings with and getting the same amount of affection without being judged.
7. Maintain a journal
Make a daily diary to write about your activities. Writing about both positive and negative things of the day will free you from any emotional baggage of your thoughts. Journals can act like true companions with whom you can share your thoughts without any fear of being judged.
8. Think positively
Cursing yourself with negative thoughts does not lead you anywhere. It would only make you feel more disconnected with people and your surroundings, making you feel lonelier than ever. So, calm yourself down and give yourself some time to heal. Treat yourself with the same respect and care as you would have treated others, rather than indulging in the negative self-talk.
9. Educate yourself
Start gathering information about your issues related to loneliness. And, soon you will realize that you’re not the only one who’s suffering from loneliness. When you start building self-awareness about loneliness only then you’ll be able to tackle it strongly.
10. Consult a counselor
In case you’re not able to cope up with loneliness, contact a counselor and seek professional help. Don’t be shy.
We all feel lonely at times, but it’s completely okay to have that feeling. There’s no shame in talking about loneliness and to seek help. It is important for us to feel connected and loved.