What to do about loneliness

August 20th, 2008 | Posted in Emotions

People were not meant to be alone…
A simple statement, but one that has genuine meaning.

People thrive on being with and around other people. Depending on your upbringing and personality, some people find it easier to be around and interact with other people, and others find it terrifying and difficult. Regardless, we were all made with the ability and need to interact and have fellowship with other people.

Loneliness is a terrible thing. It’s often compounded by the fact that people who are alone often become resilient & build barriers. This can make it even more difficult to trust people, interact with people and enjoy other peoples company. Feelings of loneliness can sometimes be reinforced by continuing to try & get by on your own strength without involving other people.

What to do about loneliness?

The first thing to do if you are feeling alone is not to stew in misery. Staying at home and torturing yourself with self-pity will only strengthen negative feelings & will not help your situation. Don’t beat up on yourself so much - it’s important to recognise that you have great qualities, and were made for a purpose. Don’t let self-esteem issues ruin your life.

If you genuinely want to live a life where you don’t feel lonely, you need to get out of your comfort zone.

Start by taking some risks, speaking up, getting involved. Are the first steps difficult? Yes. But you will feel so much better about yourself for stepping out. Here are some things you can try if you want to get on top of loneliness in your life:

1. Get involved in the community - there are many volunteer and help groups around, you can check the paper or internet for details

2. Join a church - there are many social aspects to church groups, even if you are not sure about your beliefs at this stage. Many churches are non-confrontational, and you will find the people that go there are just people like you, with hopes and dreams - not freaks. (If you find yourself in a cultish church, change to another!)

3. Join a sport - many individual and team sports are great for meeting and being around other people. Sports groups exist that cater for absolute beginners of all ages.

4. Do a course - this will at least get you out of the house & involved with doing something and surrounding yourself with people who have a common interest.

5. Exercise - go to a gym, go to a fitness group, start running.. find someone who wants to walk regularly - it’s great for your fitness & mental well being.