How to deal with loneliness

A lot of people feel lonely, though in many cases they need not be. How can you deal with loneliness? How can you feel less lonely? This article provides you with tips on how to get rid of these solitary feelings.

Face your loneliness

One of the best ways to deal with loneliness is to confront the problem. For instance, you can keep a diary to get a clear picture of the structure of your loneliness. You can get an insight in the key moments when you are most lonely or struggling with your emotions. Some people are loneliest in the evening, for instance when watching a movie by themselves. Getting a better understanding of your loneliness makes it easier to put your problems into perspective and address them.

Time management

Changing the way you spend your leisure time can make a huge difference. When you have identified the key moments when you feel most lonely, you can rearrange your schedule to avoid or cancel out these solitary moments. Maybe you can attend a course or visit friends at those times. Create free time and opportunities for new hobbies and friends, thus leaving you less time to feel lonely. This way you'll have more distractions, which will make it easier to deal with your feelings of loneliness.

Develop new interests

People often feel lonely because they spend too much time at home. This will create a vicious circle of passiveness and lonely feelings which prevents you from creating new interests and growing as a person. To break out of this circle, you need to think outside of the box and do things that lie outside of your comfort zone. Go to a gym, sign up for a course, go along when your friends invite you somewhere, ... You can even join a singles travelling group. It's not easy to forget your lonely feelings, but by trying new things and meeting new people you can feel less solitary.

Create a set time for worrying

This sounds easier said than done, but it really helps. Lonely feelings often occur whilst worrying. Since it is impossible to not worry, allow yourself a fixed moment each day for these thoughts. When you start worrying at other times during the day, be firm and postpone these thoughts. Preferably this fixed 'worry time' is during the day. Worrying right before bedtime may affect your sleeping pattern.

Seasonal affective disorder

A lot of people feel more lonely or experience depressed feelings during the long winter months. When you're suffering from seasonal affective disorder you may need to contact your GP. There are treatments that can help with this disorder, such as light therapy or medication.

Sources: www.todio.nl