Recent studies have indicated that Generation Z is the loneliest generation, despite the development and advancement of social technology. We claim to be the most connected generation of all time, yet the loneliest. Human beings are social animals; we require safe and secure social surroundings to survive. To maintain social relationships for mental and physical health, efforts must be made. Impairment in social relationships can cause loneliness, which can lead to psychiatric disorders like mood disorders, anxiety disorders, sleep issues, and personality disorders.
Loneliness is not a mental health condition. However, it can be a causal factor in mental health conditions. Preferring to be alone and being lonely are not the same. When a person enjoys their own solitude and doesn’t feel negative about being alone, In contrast, loneliness is when a person doesn’t enjoy being in solitude, which can cause emotional and mental distress.
Loneliness is associated with negative feelings, which can occur when an individual’s longing for social needs is not met. When loneliness persists for a long period, it is called chronic loneliness, which can cause mental health issues. Loneliness can happen even if the individual is part of a social group. There are different kinds of loneliness. Emotional loneliness: longing for meaningful relationships, Social loneliness: lack of quality and depth in social connections and Existential loneliness: feeling like a loner in a world full of people.
Loneliness often stems from major life events. A 2020 study done at Edinburgh University stated that the cause of loneliness is different for different age groups. For example, older people experience loneliness because they live alone, and the younger generation experiences loneliness because of low self-esteem. Loneliness can happen for a number of reasons.
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- The death of a loved one
- Moving to a new place
- Low self-esteem
- Retirement
- Physical isolation, such as living alone or working from home,
- Personality traits
- Lack of social skills
- End of a relationship
Different ways of coping with loneliness
Join a class:
Joining a class can widen your social circle and give you a sense of belonging.
Strengthening your existing social circle:
You will already have people in your life with whom you could enhance your connection. You can invest some time and engage in activities with your family and existing friends to strengthen your bond with them.
Adopt a pet:
Pets are excellent companions and great listeners, and having dogs can help you overcome loneliness.
Keeping yourself busy:
Every day, plan your day based on the things to do and your priorities. Morning, take some time out to plan your day to keep yourself occupied. This can help you deal with boredom and loneliness.
Counseling:
You can seek counseling, which can help you share your issues, and counseling can be a space for you to vent about whatever you want to talk about. Counseling can help you develop your social skills, personal effectiveness, and communication skills.
Practice self-care:
when you feel lonely and no one is there to spend time with you. You can engage in different self-care activities by keeping yourself occupied: cooking nutritious food, exercising, getting enough sleep, and engaging in creative work. All of these things have proven to enhance your overall well-being.
Restrict your social media time:
Spend time with people who are actually around you and not with people on social media. Social media is a good place to connect with people, but it doesn’t assure a quality social connection.
Make new connections:
Take some efforts to connect with people in your college and work spaces. Many of my clients have complained about loneliness. However, the cause of their loneliness was their failure to make any efforts to make any connections.
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