How to Deal with Loneliness

Everyone experiences times in life where they are single, due to the death of a spouse, the break-up of a long-term relationship, or because they have just finished completing their studies. Many people welcome solitude and independence, while others feel deserted and cut adrift. If you are one of the latter, we look at a few ways you can deal with loneliness.

Finding a Partner 

For those who are in a hurry to get out of their single state, dating sites offer the opportunity to consider multiple potential partners and narrow this down to suitable people with similar interests. For example, OurTime is an app specifically for singles over 50 looking for a match. Go to a review site like top10.com to read Our Time reviews and find out how to join their matchmaking services. It provides the pros and cons of the OurTime dating service, provides some statistics, and describes the sign-up process. 

When you want to meet someone that you have met online through a dating app, you need to consider the best places to meet, keeping in mind what you expect from the encounter. Some people want romance while others are simply looking for friendship in the short term. Whatever you decide, be sure to take your personal safety into account.

Above all, don’t rush into a new relationship. Take it slowly and consider if the match is a good one for the long haul.

Making Friends with Your Circumstances 

Sometimes you just aren’t getting it right to meet someone. Perhaps you are not ready to date yet, in which case, you shouldn’t push yourself. Or maybe nothing is clicking for you. According to a survey, one in ten people describe themselves as often being lonely. Seven out of ten young adults found that this was increased by the enforced isolation resulting from the covid pandemic. So, you are in good company if you feel this way.

Remember that you can feel alone in a crowd. Don’t collect as many new relationships as possible to end the discomfort. Make every friendship count in terms of shared values and mutual enjoyment of each other’s company. Choose quality over quantity.

But being alone need not mean being lonely. There are strategies to help you. The first one is to accept the situation and enter it deeply. Learn its lessons and use this time to get to know yourself better. Figure out how you can be the best partner for the type of person you want to meet. In other words, make sure that you are bringing something solid and exciting to the table.

Activities to Divert Loneliness

When loneliness weighs heavily on you, engage in activities that take you out of yourself. The worst thing you can do is sit and mope. Determine what activities you enjoy and use this to choose how you spend your time. For example, if you enjoy cycling, join a bicycle club where you will meet like-minded people. But do it for your pleasure and not as a means to find someone. This will build your self-esteem and show you your worth. It is important that you are able to like and appreciate yourself.

Learn to meditate. Practice being alone with what you experience emotionally. We need to learn the skills to cope alone so take a cookery class or learn how to change the tire on your car.

By volunteering for a charity or cause you support, you get a renewed sense of purpose in life. This has been shown to provide greater satisfaction with life and more contentment. Helping those who are less fortunate can remind you of what you have. 

Mental Health, Physical Health, And Other Connections to Loneliness

Loneliness and depression have been linked together by research in people over the age of 50 and tend to spark each other off so that it becomes a vicious cycle. A sense of well-being and bodily health are also affected negatively by this pair. Many younger individuals have been affected by covid restrictions. 

Other studies have indicated that physical pain uses the same receptors in the brain that deal with feelings of social exclusion. Additionally, emotional pain can lower the ability of the immune system to fight off infections. 

The importance of family as a social network is often overlooked. In many ways, these are the people you are closest to and the ones with the greatest concern for your happiness. Spending time with family members can significantly reduce depression because it reminds you that you are connected and part of a bigger history than your life only.  

Free Woman Meditating in the Outdoors Stock Photo

Lastly, consider getting professional help if you are not coping with loneliness and depression.

As with all things, loneliness passes, or in some cases, becomes a personal preference for being alone.

Similar Posts:

About the author

I have always been a shopaholic. A lot of times my questions went unanswered when it came to retail questions, so I started Talk Radio News. - Caitlyn Johnson

Leave a Comment