This Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16 May) we’re focusing on loneliness.
Studies have found that of the 9 million people who always or often feel lonely, over two-fifths of them say their mental health is affected by it and that those living with a long-term health condition are at particular risk of feeling lonely.
Social connections are not just about being with people but feeling like we belong. They help us to feel valued and supported. Social connections can have as much impact on our health as smoking or alcohol consumption and they can also protect against stress and depression. A lack of social connections can lead to physical and mental ill health, which is why it’s important to keep socially active – whether that’s volunteering, going for regular walks or joining in with craft activities at your local community centre!
In the coming week the Mental Health Foundation will be sharing stories and tips around how you can take care of yourself when you’re feeling lonely and how you can look out for others who might be too.
Are you feeling lonely? You’re not alone.
Loneliness is an increasing problem for people of all ages and lifestyles. But it isn’t just a feeling – it can affect our health, relationships and how we live our lives.
When you feel lonely, you may also feel disconnected or isolated from others around you. Lonely is not the same as being alone, as many people can be alone and not feel lonely.
Loneliness is a subjective feeling that grows from a belief that there are few people to connect with, leading to a sense of isolation and dissatisfaction with your current connections.
Why does loneliness matter?
To begin with, loneliness can have an effect on your mental and physical health. It can lead to social isolation which can have a negative impact on both physical and mental health.
Loneliness can be a risk factor for experiencing other mental and physical health problems such as depression, low self-esteem, impaired cognitive abilities, dementia.
In addition to this it has also been found that it can affect our immune system. When we experience feelings of rejection or isolation our body releases stress hormones which in turn contributes to inflammation in the body resulting in more frequent illnesses like colds or infections.
It has also been found that loneliness can affect our sleep by either making us sleep too much or not enough contributing to fatigue!
Who is affected by loneliness?
Loneliness can affect anyone, regardless of disability, age or life circumstances. Loneliness is not the same as being alone. It’s more about how you feel in relation to others and feeling isolated from people around you. Social isolation is a risk factor for loneliness; however, social distancing rules were making it harder for some people to interact with others.
Quarantine and self-isolation made it extremely lonely when you couldn’t have visitors at your home or go out to see others. The loneliness that came from this situation may have been worse if someone was experiencing other stressors in their lives — such as living in a shelter or on the street, being separated from family and friends during an emergency, coping with a chronic disease, or having a mental health condition that made social interaction difficult like anxiety or depression.
How do I know if I’m lonely?
If you’re feeling down or low, this could be a sign that you’re feeling lonely. You might feel like no one understands what you’re going through; like there’s no one to talk to, or that if there was someone to talk to, they wouldn’t understand anyway.
Low mood and loneliness can come hand-in-hand – it can be harder to reach out when we feel low and don’t have the energy or motivation.
Sometimes it’s hard to see anyone, even when we know that doing so would make us feel much better. So we might avoid situations where we will see people, and stop doing things that used to give us pleasure. We may not even enjoy the things that used to make us happy anymore. And it feels like there’s no way out of this cycle. It’s important not to let yourself get into a rut because staying in more can lead you feeling like you’re missing out on life and your relationships with others are becoming distant and strained.
What can I do about it?
To tackle loneliness and isolation, there are some things you can do.
Join a group. Group activities are a great way to meet other people who might also be struggling with their mental health. For example, you could join a choir, walking group or church group; often all of these groups are free to join or have a small membership fee. Alternatively, if you have access to the internet, there are many community forums and online support groups that can provide advice and support.
Keep in touch with old friends. Keeping up with your existing friendships is very important for maintaining good mental health; even if it can be difficult sometimes to stay in touch over long distances.
Volunteer. Volunteering is an excellent way to use your skills and experience to help others while making new friends at the same time.
If you’re disabled and require the use of a wheelchair or mobility scooter, you may think this will hinder you in some way. There are lots many community groups who would love you to get involved and will make sure you can be included no matter the requirements. Using resources like local Facebook groups, and council websites, there will be something on to get you involved with likeminded people – just make sure you reach out.
Where can I find out more about loneliness?
If you would like to know more, visit the following links:
Mental Health Help:
