Even before the COVID-19 pandemic swept the nation and millions of people were ordered to stay at home as much as possible, many were suffering from loneliness and social isolation. At least in the United States, loneliness had already become its own epidemic. If you google “scholarly articles on loneliness and social isolation,” dozens of articles written within the past five years immediately surface. An article published in the APA monitor in 2018 outlines some of the health risks associated with chronic social isolation and loneliness, including a risk of harm to physical and mental health that is twice as high as obesity. Studies have shown that individuals who struggle with loneliness over an extended period of time are more likely to suffer from depression, develop medical conditions, and die younger than their peers. According to recent studies, loneliness has become a concerning public health issue.
While a great deal of attention has been given to the negative outcomes associated with loneliness, not many solutions have been proposed. The purpose of this post is to have a candid conversation around how those who are suffering can seek support to fight their battle with loneliness and social isolation. But there is also a call to action for the rest of the community. We must all work together to fight this battle, and to support those who are struggling and to help them overcome it and build resilience.
Is loneliness the battle you’re fighting? First, we must distinguish between “loneliness“ and being alone. Not everyone who spends a lot of time by themselves considers themselves to be lonely. Loneliness is an emotion people experience when they are longing for connection with others, both physically and emotionally. We can live alone and be content, we can live alone and feel incredibly lonely, or we can live amongst others in the same household and feel lonely and isolated. We know from the research that people living in close proximity to each other can be just as lonely as those who live in rural areas. In fact, we know it can feel even lonelier to be surrounded by people but to not feel connected.
Is loneliness a problem we can solve? The increase of loneliness in the United States in the past decade is a result of societal changes that make it more difficult to make social connections. People who report feeling lonely regularly say that it’s harder to make friends and takes more energy to meet new people.
A lot more people live by themselves, and it has become more common to move far away from traditional support networks like families and childhood friends. We spend more time on electronic devices for work and recreation, but interacting over social media and the internet does not create the same sense of connection. Thus, solutions to fight loneliness must involve ways for people to more easily connect.
Identifying loneliness as a major public health concern and a condition that leads to physical and mental health problems is the first step to finding solutions. But it’s more complicated than just getting people together, though, that is of course important. Here are some steps that individuals can take to fight their battle with loneliness:
Get involved in your community. Volunteer in areas that interest you. Nowadays, volunteering does not have to be a huge time commitment, but it can make one feel purposeful, and it often leads to feeling connected to those who are also volunteering and those you are helping.
Get outdoors. Going for walks in your neighborhood, visiting a local garden or natural habitat, or exercising outside can also increase connection to the community, even if you aren’t always talking to others around you.
Seek professional support, especially if you were struggling with severe anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions that may affect your willingness to be proactive in fighting loneliness. Often, people say that a cycle develops, where they are lonely, but they are also anxious about reaching out to others or getting involved in the community. If anxiety or depression results in avoidance, it will be hard to take steps to find connection. During COVID-19, there are more opportunities than ever to find affordable support groups, therapists, and other resources to help reduce anxiety and improve self-confidence.
What can the community do to fight loneliness? Those who are struggling with loneliness should not have to fight this battle by themselves. Communities have the responsibility of supporting others who are struggling and making it easier for people to connect. Say hello to your neighbors when you see them outside. You never know who needs a positive word of encouragement. Call friends and family members who live alone, or who you know may be struggling with feelings of loneliness. Sometimes a text, phone call, or FaceTime can brighten someone’s day just because they know someone cares enough to stay in touch. It doesn’t take a grand gesture to make someone feel supported.
Fighting the epidemic of loneliness is going to require more than recognizing that it exists. Whether you are lonely, know someone who is, or cannot relate to either, we all must take part in finding solutions.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash