We live in a time and age when communication is as fast as ever and we can get in touch with whoever we want, whenever we want, and wherever we want. Most of us have benefited largely from this power but many of us feel more disconnected, lonely, and isolated from the world than before. It is essential to keep in mind that loneliness is an experience that most of us go through but rarely talk about. As ironic as it may sound, you’re not alone in your feeling of loneliness. If you’re going through this period currently, here are some tips that may help you cope with loneliness.
1. Figure Out The Root Cause Of Your Loneliness
People may experience a feeling of loneliness due to a number of reasons including social anxiety or awkwardness, depression, past experiences, negative thoughts, or unrealistic expectations. Understanding the root cause of your loneliness is the first step to take towards resolving it. For example, if you find that the reason you’re lonely is because you fear opening up to people, then that is the primary issue that has to be resolved. Once the root cause has been identified and resolved, your loneliness will most likely fade away as well.
2. Confronting The Real You
There is no point in trying to fix your loneliness by spending time with people constantly if the root cause for your loneliness is that you’re afraid of confronting yourself. Many people today are scared of being alone or not having anything to do as that might mean coming face to face with their own thoughts and fears. Although confronting yourself can be terrifying, it can help you become more at peace with yourself. You can use a journal to pen your thoughts if they seem to chaotic in your head. Once you get comfortable with your own mind, you may even prefer spending some quality time by yourself.
3. Getting Used To Spending Time With Yourself
There are a lot of negative stereotypes associated with doing things alone but ignore all of them. Pursue your interests and hobbies fearlessly even if you don’t have company when you do so. You may discover new people who share your interests or you may not – in either case it’s great to be able to have the confidence to do your own thing without having to rely on anyone for support.
4. Therapy – Talk About Your Loneliness
If you have trouble figuring out why you might be feeling lonely, consider talking to a therapist about it. It my help offer a different perspective that you did not see before. Just talking about your experience and sharing it may make you feel a lot better and help you see things differently.
5. Keeping Yourself Busy
In many cases, the reason a person feels lonely is because they have a lot of time on their hands and they tend to dwell in their negative thoughts. If we get too comfortable in our own state of misery, it might be harder to get out of it. Find activities that you enjoy doing and invest your time in them. Spend time in reflection but ensure you spend an equal amount of time in action as well.
6. Reading Self-Help
In several cases people feel lonely because they might fear initiating conversation or might be socially anxious. In these cases, reading self-help books that deal with building self-esteem or those that educate us on social cues for interaction might prove to be extremely helpful. Our conventional education systems may not have helped us in this regard but do not fear – there are several self-help websites and books that might suit your exact requirement.
