Dealing With Loneliness
A person can be alone much of the time but not feel lonely. Others may be surrounded by people but feel like they are alone because they don't have a connection with anyone in the group.
Adapted from image courtesy of Pixabay
How can a person deal with loneliness, that empty feeling inside? Firstly, rather than trying to find other people who will entertain you, develop yourself. If you are a positive, interesting person others are more likely to feel drawn to you. Ironically, you may depend less on others to provide entertainment.
Some of the activities you may become involved in as part of your quest for self improvement will bring you into contact with others. You may end up becoming friends with one or more of these people.
Self improvement
Any activity which helps you improve or develop yourself emotionally or spiritually can be seen as self improvement.
You might attend a class or workshop to develop or improve in the area of -
self-esteem
assertiveness
negotiation skills
confidence building
mindfulness
managing conflict
Strategies to deal with loneliness
If you feel lonely and want friends there are a number of things you can do:
Look for people who have just moved to your area/school/workplace and need friends. Think about their needs. Offer to show them around town. Talk to them about the facilities, good shops, recreation and such that is available.
Ask the manager at an aged care facility or your church leader if there are lonely people who would appreciate a visit.
When I was in my late teens I visited isolated people who belonged to the church I attended. I found it worked best if I sent a brief letter before my first visit explaining who I was and that I would be visiting. This meant people were prepared and not confused about the reason for my visit.
Join a sports club or hobby group.
Get involved with a club, perhaps a sporting activity you enjoy. Image courtesy Pixabay
Learn a new skill such as basic home repairs, public speaking or something to do with your computer. People attending classes talk to each other about the activity. This can be less intimidating than just talking about yourself.
Volunteer in an area of interest to you. As well as making friends you will learn new skills and it looks good on your resume. It feels good to help others. You have something extra to talk about when you meet people in daily life.
Join an online group. The good thing about online activities is you can be in the comfort of your room/home even late at night and communicate with people all over the world.
I would suggest this as an activity in addition to going out into the community around you, not instead of. If your only communication is online, you can feel isolated from your local community.
But what about people who get very anxious?
If you experience a great deal of anxiety or panic attacks at the thought of socialising or when you are in social situations, you may benefit from talking to a medical professional. He/she can refer you to someone who can help you with these issues.
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253057 - 2023-07-18 07:46:25