Easing Feelings of Loneliness

Whether you recently moved to a new area, are creating boundaries with friends and family or have experienced a loss, being alone is challenging. Feelings of sadness, frustration and low self-esteem are common when spending a lot of time by yourself.

Community is essential for your mental health and something you can build no matter where you are.

Here are a few tips for easing loneliness and making new connections.

• Try volunteering. Helping those in need can provide a distraction and help you identify with a bigger cause. Consider volunteering at a soup kitchen or a clean-up project. Ask your local library for volunteering events if you need help figuring out where to start.

• Use healthy distractions. It might prove painful to reminisce about those you can't be with. If so, try distracting yourself with a new hobby or attending your favorite events. Just be sure to avoid unhealthy distractions like drinking or watching too much TV.

• Acknowledge your feelings. If you can't be with family and friends or have experienced the loss of a loved one, it's common to feel sadness and grief. Take time to express your feelings with someone you trust or a mental health professional. Writing in a journal can also be a good outlet.  

• Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, connecting with others can help. Say hello to neighbors or pick up the phone and call an old friend you haven't spoken to in a while. You are far from the only person feeling down, and it may be surprising how eager others are to connect if you give them a chance. 

For more on how to cope with loneliness, check out the Loneliness Toolkit.