Addressing the Impact of Loneliness on Mental Health
It's normal to feel lonely every once in a while. Going long periods without talking to someone we love can make us feel sad and out of sorts. Loneliness can kick in like quicksand, making us feel isolated and disconnected from the people we love. Despite having ample technological connections, we live in a society where many feel more alone than ever.
By nature, humans crave social connection. However, the last few years have proven to be difficult in many ways. One of the areas that were impacted by the pandemic was social gatherings and being face-to-face. While the weeks of widespread quarantine, masking, and social distancing may be over, that doesn't mean our mental health has recovered. So, what exactly is the impact of loneliness on mental health?
The Connections Between Loneliness and Mental Health
Isolation and Depression
One of the most vicious connections between our mental health and isolation is when someone is dealing with depression. When someone is coping with depression, one of the signs of it is social isolation. This can be due to many reasons. Whether that is the fear of not wanting to bother others with any problems or the feeling that nobody cares, depression causes us to withdraw from our social circles and loved ones.
Unfortunately, this creates a vicious cycle and only works to increase the feelings of loneliness. Going through dark periods is often one of the most important times we need social support.
Loneliness and Anxiety
Many people throughout the world deal with social anxiety. Social anxiety is a challenging condition that causes someone to have intense fears and moments of panic when it comes to socializing with other people. It's not uncommon for people with social anxiety to avoid going out into the public as much as possible, or they may avoid crowds. Additionally, someone with social anxiety may find it difficult to connect with other people, even those whom they consider to be friends. This also creates a cycle that is hard to get out of because your anxiety causes you to isolate yourself, but your isolation causes you to feel lonely.
Isolation Only Worsens Mental Health...But It's Hard To Break That Cycle!
Depression and anxiety, in themselves, are hard to contend with. They both try to convince you of lies about yourself, the world, and other people's viewpoints of you. The lies of anxiety may convince you that everyone is judging you or that you're going to mess up in a social interaction. The lies of depression try to convince you that no one cares about you and that you don't really have anyone you can open up to.
The true connection between mental health and loneliness lies in the vicious cycles that each brings to the table. What if we said that you can break this cycle?
Loneliness Is Something That Can Be Lifted
As hard as it can feel to believe, you aren't truly alone in life. Maybe your circle of friends has shrunk over the years, or maybe you are no longer close with your family or have them around. No matter the scenario in your life, the cycle of loneliness can be broken.
Don't be afraid to reach out to a close friend or relative and ask to meet up for dinner or do a video chat. Sometimes, even a quick 5-minute call with someone can lift your spirit.
If you don't have a lot of social support, try to go out and meet new people or join a support group. As intimidating as putting yourself out there can be, you will likely stumble upon people you feel connected to.
Most importantly, if loneliness is impacting your mental health, don't hesitate to reach out to us for depression or anxiety treatment. We can help lift you out of this cycle and find meaningful ways to live a life that feels full to you.
