5 Ways to Cope With Loneliness

(GivenUs.com) – While we all need to be alone from time to time, too much loneliness can lead to depression, anxiety, and intense sadness. That’s because, as social beings, we all have at least a baseline need for human connection. Being around others helps us feel complete – but it isn’t always easy, especially in the middle of a pandemic.

Michael Unks shares his story of coping with loneliness in this video:

How to Cope With Loneliness

Engage in a creative outlet. Creative expression is one way to get past feelings of being isolated. Crafts and art are a way to express yourself and engage in a project to occupy your mind and time. It’s also a great way to cure boredom.

Just ask. Stop waiting for your friends to ask you to go out and do stuff. Give them a call or text and ask them to go grab a bite or come over for cocktail hour. Sometimes, you just have to take the first step.

Give to live. Combat feelings of loneliness by making an impact on others. Stay busy by volunteering your time to help underprivileged people or pets in your neighborhood. Engaging in philanthropic activities fills lonely days with productivity.

Choose quality over quantity. Don’t accept dates with friends who may cause more trouble than harm. A few nights of hardcore partying might feel like it fulfills your social needs, but it often leads to negative consequences. Instead, choose activities with a friend who will enrich your life.

Don’t judge a book by its cover. You walk by that small group of people always engaging in deep conversation at the cafe. You’d love to have friends like that, but you feel that they’ve already formed their clique. You’d be an outsider. Change your thinking! Before you make that assessment, stop and say hi. Who knows? Tomorrow you may be laughing and having a cup of joe alongside them.

Coping with loneliness is difficult, but on the upside, it’s pretty simple to divert. From engaging with others to doing something productive with your time. Making a change can help make coping easier. Don’t let it wear you down and remember, there is always a rainbow after the rain.

~Here’s to Your Success!