Loneliness is not a mental health condition but linked to the development of or the worsening of mental health conditions. Loneliness is really a lack of meaningful contact and it can be a vicious cycle for your mental health. Mental health conditions can often make you feel lonely and lead you to isolate yourself from others and not surprisingly, the isolation can lead to increased feelings of depression or just make the state of your mental health worse.
Feeling lonely can lead to worse performance on tests of thinking abilities and cognitive decline in general (impaired cognitive performance and cognitive decline), impact optimism and self-esteem, and of course, have an impact on our overall mood.
If you're wondering what causes loneliness, it can be a variety of different changing life situations. It might be a breakup, changing jobs or even trying to survive a pandemic. What's important to know is that loneliness can occur even if you have friends or are surrounded by people. First-year university students, for example, can feel lonely even though they're surrounded by peers. Or, you could be in an office full of colleagues, part of a large family or have a few good friends and still feel lonely.
To overcome loneliness, first accept that loneliness is a common and normal experience, and also a possible sign that you need to take action. For some, it can be as simple as recognizing this sign and then making a plan to take action and make some changes in your life. Take some time to consider what your values are and evaluate what you want to look for in friendships and relationships. Then, take action and reach out to that old friend or look to build new relationships within your community. Remember to take care of yourself too - prioritize the activities that bring you joy, eat balanced meals and exercise to help you cope with feelings of loneliness.
If you're feeling lonely and need some support, visit us here to complete your assessment and get started with the therapy that's best suited for you.