Is Loneliness the latest Pandemic?

First Published 13 April 2023

Loneliness is a really strange thing in that you can feel lonely even when you aren’t alone!

It’s a state of social isolation which when you start digging in to it, is quite alarming and is listed on the World Health Organisation as a priority public health problem in older people, but I am wondering if there is a growing challenge in younger people too?

Speaking today to an entrepreneur who commented that when she left her job and moved to working for herself she was surprised at how lonely she was.

And then there is the left over impact of the COVID pandemic on our social connections.  Some of us thrived in the peace and quiet but others of us struggled and the struggle for some hasn’t gone away.  And that’s before we even delve in to the challenges that school age (and younger) children have experienced.

But, what is loneliness? It can be caused by:

• Moving to a new city
• Losing a loved one
• Retirement
• Chronic illness
• Mental health conditions
• Forced isolation

Note that this is not an exhaustive list.  What’s worse though is the health implications this can lead to – including taking up to 15 years off life expectancy 😲 but rather than dwell on all this, lets talk about some tips on how to deal with loneliness!

Having done some research on overcoming loneliness, it did amuse me that most of the suggestions were similar to my friend’s advice on dating 😲 don’t worry though – I am not looking to get involved in dating tips (well not this week anyway!!)

Start with seeing where you can build connections with others:

• Join a club or group – what interests you? Is there a group you can get involved with?
• Volunteer – find a cause that you are interested in and see if you van get involved
• Spend time with friends and family – plan a day trip or a night out, or even just a phone call
• Make an effort to reach out to people who are lonely – look around for people you haven’t checked in with in a while – see if they could do with a chat (or a hug!)
• Take care of yourself. Make sure you are eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly.
• Seek professional help or support if you need it. A therapist or coach can help you to understand your loneliness and develop coping mechanisms. (👋 you know where I am!)

If you are struggling with loneliness, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help. (if this isn’t you – who do you know that could benefit from you reaching out to help them?)

There are a number of resources available, including health kinesiology and coaching – of even my new group programme which will have an element of dealing with loneliness (Release, Reconnect & Renew: Build Resilience, Overcome Overwhelm & Find Support & Balance with Ease).  With the right support, you can overcome loneliness and live a happier, healthier life.