Prolonged loneliness can weigh you down emotionally, making life seem bleak and meaningless. It can also cause physical symptoms, including pain, sleep problems and a weak immune response. When it seems impossible to escape feelings of loneliness, pandemic-related or not, these 12 tips can help.
Accept it: The next time loneliness begins to surface, accept it as it comes. You can put on music and do something to distract yourself, browse old notebooks, read poetry, or just sit back and agree on personal feelings and goals.
Fill the house with sound: When you feel lonely, empty space can make it worse. Sound helps fill the space of your environment and your thoughts, making them less overloaded.
Stay in touch: Aim to connect regularly with the important people in your life, even a quick message.
Make the most of interactions: The way you spend time with others can make a big difference. Sometimes, you may just need some company and feel good watching a movie with a friend or sharing thoughts at work.
Get out there: A change of environment can distract you and help you get rid of loneliness.
Talk about feelings: Emotions tend to gather beneath the surface and increase when not accepted. Expressing feelings out loud, however, can often help reduce their power to cause anxiety.
Give creative things a chance: Creative activities like art, music, and writing help many people cope with isolation and let go of feelings of loneliness.
Një kafshë shtëpiake: Nëse keni menduar gjithmonë për një kafshë shtëpiake, ndoshta tani është koha e duhur. Një kafshë shtëpiake mund të mos jetë në gjendje të flasë, por ç’rëndësi ka kjo. Prania e një krijese tjetër mund t'ju ngushëllojë dhe studimet kanë treguar për efektet pozitive të pranisë së tyre.
Largohuni nga rrjetet sociale: Teksa rrjetet sociale shpesh duken si një mënyrë tërheqëse për të ruajtur lidhjet me të dashurit, ndonjëherë mund të rrisin ndjenjat e vetmisë.
Bëni diçka që doni: Vetmia mund t’i pushtojë mendimet deri në atë pikë sa të jetë e vështirë të mendoni për ndonjë gjë tjetër, përfshirë gjërat që ju pëlqejnë zakonisht. Mos neglizhoni hobin tuaj të preferuar.
Remind yourself that it is not permanent: No matter how difficult the feeling, loneliness will not last forever. Acknowledging this fact can sometimes bring relief.
Seek help: If all else fails, get help from a therapist.
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Sources: Healthline, Psychology Today / First published in May 2021
