How to Fill the Hole of Loneliness

Loneliness can leave you feeling isolated and depressed.

Loneliness can cause you to feel disconnected from the rest of the world. You may feel something or someone is missing from your life. Many events can trigger loneliness, including the loss of a loved one, a move or a job change. You do not have to be alone to feel loneliness; it is possible to feel lonely even when around others. Loneliness can affect every aspect of your life, including your physical, emotional and mental health, as well as your work or school performance. While loneliness can feel inescapable, it is possible to overcome the feeling with concerted effort.

Instructions

1. Focus on staying positive. Identify negative thoughts that contribute to your loneliness. Determine whether these thoughts are rational or irrational and make a conscious effort to remedy those that are rational and focus recalling facts disprove the irrational.

2. Make the best of your alone time by developing your personal interests and independence. Involve yourself in activities that interest you. Take up a hobby you have always wanted to start, such as learning an art form or traveling. Go to events by yourself, such as concerts, movies and sporting events.

3. Incorporate daily exercise into your schedule. Perform activities that boost your heart rate in order to elevate your mood. Go to a gym or take a dance or aerobic class in order to increase your chances of social interactions while working out.

4. Engage in volunteer opportunities in order to allow yourself the opportunity to interact with and help others. Join a social group such as a discussion group or book club. Take a class to give yourself the opportunity to meet people with similar interests and possibly make new friends. Join Internet chat groups and social media sites if you are unable to go out and join a social group.

5. Practice developing your social skills and engaging others in conversation in order to increase your chances of making friends. Begin talking to others at work, school or other public settings. Ask the person questions about themselves and their interests. Listen attentively and make comments in order to show that you are engaged in the conversation. Maintain eye contact and smile in order to show that you are interested in communication.

6. Focus on developing existing relationships in your life. Connect with friends and family and work to strengthen those bonds.

References

• Seniorliving.com: Seniors and Loneliness
• Texas State University: Overcoming Loneliness
• University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign: Loneliness