How are you going to assist a beloved one affected by loneliness? – . Well being Weblog

You are worried about your mother. Before the pandemic, you would visit her every week with your young children. They loved playing in their garden and eating homemade cookies together. You would take your mother with you to medical appointments and small trips. However, because of your chronic lung disease, you made the difficult decision in March not to continue personal family visits. You call her every day, but she keeps sounding sad and worried. What can you do?

What is loneliness and how does it affect health?

Loneliness is a subjective mental state in which one feels separate from others. It's different from social isolation – you can be lonely even when you are surrounded by people who are important to you. Loneliness can be triggered by memories of losing someone, feeling misunderstood by others, having emotionally unsatisfactory relationships, or having less access to relationships due to changing life circumstances. According to studies, loneliness is one of the biggest human health problems: it's the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day, appears to be more harmful than obesity, and can increase the risk of death by 29%.

Loneliness and suicide

Unsurprisingly, reports of loneliness and suicide have increased dramatically in recent years. According to a recent poll, more than three in five Americans consider themselves lonely. Federal government data shows that suicide rates rose by more than a third from 1999 to 2018. Although studies have not established whether loneliness causes suicide, they have shown an association between loneliness and suicidal thoughts and behaviors that are independent of depression. Worryingly, arms sales in the US have skyrocketed since March 2020. With home lockdowns and assignments increasing in social isolation, reducing loneliness should be a public health priority. If left untreated, loneliness can lead to a gun-related suicide crisis.

Tips to Overcome Loneliness

So what can you do to prevent loneliness and help a loved one? While we don't have enough data to determine the most effective solitude measures, the following principles can help you and your loved ones and should be applied on a daily basis:

  • Connect sensibly with family and friends. While technology can help foster connections, it is imperfect: social media, for example, has actually been linked to increasing loneliness. Make a connection that works best for you: by phone, video chat, through a mobile application, or even by talking to your neighbors over the fence or in a park.
  • Be thankful. Loneliness can lead people to focus on themselves and their needs. The goal is to express appreciation to friends, family members, and strangers.
  • Focus on what you can change. Dealing with your current situation can keep the loneliness going. Instead, focus on something you can control and work on it.
  • Have fun doing it. Do a task, spend time writing, find a new hobby, or just allow yourself to immerse yourself in a new activity. Let your creativity take over your mind and body!
  • Remove negativity. Surround yourself with people and activities that you enjoy. Take a break from the news or at least limit your consumption.
  • Data suggests that just smiling can make you feel better.
  • Be kind, understanding, and patient. Work on treating yourself and others with compassion. Engaging in pleasant interactions can also help those around you and lead to deeper connections.
  • Develop a routine that provides balance and familiarity. Create a daily schedule that includes physical activity, time to connect with loved ones, a project or hobby, and some relaxing pleasure.

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