If you notice any of the following signs of loneliness, the first step is to acknowledge them: It isn’t always easy to admit to yourself that you’re feeling lonely. How to Combat Loneliness While Being Aloneġ) Understand the underlying causes for the symptoms you feel and then challenge your reactions. It is expected that the emotional and mental toll of what we are doing and seeing in these Covid-19 times will have significant effects on us. However, as weeks pass by, and “being alone” does not remain a personal choice but something that is mandated upon you, one can feel burnout and restlessness as loneliness sets in. People may savor being alone at first as they suddenly feel they have more time to do things they have always wanted to do ( e.g., cook more, read more, learn a language, write a blog). At first, such individuals may see in an increase in productivity as they are likely to replace social activities with more alone time on work. The lockdown and distancing measures in the wake of Covid-19 has forced many single adults to be “alone” in their homes such that they are essentially quarantined and restricted in the type of social interactions they can have. Past studies during the SARS pandemic show that individuals who were quarantined during the outbreak had higher levels of anxiety and depression and reported more alcohol abuse three years later. Loneliness, in its different forms, can lead to despair and depression.

Emotional loneliness is more likely when there is a lack of intimacy in close, exclusive relationships with one’s romantic partner, parents, or kids. Social loneliness is felt when we do not have a confidante and are unable to get support from peers, colleagues, family, or friends. It is when we miss mattering to others - irrespective of whether we are alone or living with someone. Loneliness, which is far less satisfying, occurs when we crave social and emotional needs that are not being met. In our busy lives, we all strive to carve out space or time to find peace and solitude - to reflect, unwind, and be creative. See more from Ascend here.īeing alone is often a luxury which has many positive outcomes.

The wells of loneliness