During this pandemic, it’s common for people who were previously social butterflies to suddenly find themselves alone. This can be a difficult adjustment, especially when friends and family are dying all around you.
It’s easy to feel isolated, especially if you’re a loner by nature. But there are ways to cope with this feeling.
Try getting outside more often and spending time in nature. It’s been shown that spending time outside can help reduce stress levels and improve mental health.
If this has happened to you or someone you know, here are some tips on how to deal with loneliness during the pandemic:
You’re not alone in feeling lonely.
You’re not alone in feeling lonely. Loneliness is a common feeling that affects everyone, but it’s okay to still have feelings of loneliness when you’re dealing with an apocalypse. You are not weak for being lonely and there is nothing wrong with you if you’re feeling this way.
Loneliness has been described as “a universal experience” by psychologists and sociologists; it’s something that we all feel at some point in our lives, regardless of whether or not our lives are affected by the pandemic or any other event. Having lonliness during an event like this can make us feel isolated from those around us, but remember that everyone else is going through the same thing too!
It’s OK to feel your feelings.
You are not alone. It’s okay to feel lonely, it’s okay for you to feel scared, angry, sad and guilty. You don’t have to feel ashamed about your feelings during this time period. It is important that we all take a deep breath and understand that there are no right or wrong ways of feeling during this pandemic!
If you feel sad and can’t stop crying all the time, it might be best if someone were around with you while they were doing something else like brushing their teeth or watching a movie on their phone. If someone doesn’t want help from anyone but only wants themself then let them do what they need until they’re ready otherwise they’ll get sick too fast because of their own self-neglecting habits which can lead up into getting infected by others through physical contact such as kissing on cheeks or handshakes (which I’ve done many times without thinking twice about it).
Keep a journal or write letters.
One way to deal with the loneliness is by keeping a journal or writing letters. Write down your thoughts and feelings, even if you don’t send them anywhere. Or write letters to your family, friends and celebrities. You can also write letters to yourself or pets that don’t exist yet.
Talk about it with someone you trust.
There are many options available to you, should you feel the need to talk about your feelings. You can talk with someone in your community, such as a friend or family member. Or, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by these feelings and would like an extra level of support, there are therapists who specialize in working with people living with HIV/AIDS or other chronic illnesses. You may also consider joining a support group for people living with HIV/AIDS; these groups often have regular meetings where individuals can share their stories and discuss how they’re handling their own loneliness during this time.
Make an effort to reach out to other people.
- Reach out to those you know. It’s important to keep in touch with the people you care about, especially if they’re far away and their situation is uncertain. If you have a friend or family member that lives in another country, make a point of talking with them whenever possible—even if it’s only for five minutes at a time. You’ll feel better knowing that someone is there for you when no one else seems like they are.
- Reach out to someone new (or at least not as familiar). Have you ever heard of an old saying? It goes: “You can choose your friends but not your family.” That may be true, but it doesn’t mean that we should let our connections with others limit themselves strictly within our families and friends circles! There are plenty of ways that we can reach out beyond these boundaries – try volunteering at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter; join a hobby group; look into joining an intramural sports team; take up music lessons…the list goes on!
- Reach out unconditionally (to both strangers AND friends). This rule applies whether or not someone needs help finding work; coordinating childcare arrangements between parents who live apart due to separation/divorce/etc.; paying medical bills; etcetera… The best way – hands down – remains just reaching out without preconceived notions about what others need from us based upon prior knowledge alone because doing so allows us all kinds opportunities for growth both individually but also collectively as well
Get outside as much as possible.
It’s important to get out of your house, office, car and apartment as much as possible. Not only does this help you avoid the virus but it will also make you feel less lonely.
You can be outside in many different ways: walking around your neighborhood or town; taking a nice hike; going to a park or beach (if they’re not infected); having lunch outside with friends; sitting on a bench at night watching the stars twinkle above you; etc.
Figure out what makes you feel uplifted, and do it every day.
Look, it’s not easy to pull yourself out of a deep, dark hole of sadness. But if you want to make it through this time and come out stronger on the other side, then you’re going to have to do something that is often very difficult: You have to get real with yourself about what makes you feel good about yourself and what in life brings you joy. Because when we are facing so many challenges in our lives and the world around us seems increasingly chaotic and frightening (I mean, who knew that paper would become extinct?!) it’s easy for those things we love most about ourselves—like how well we can dance or how much we love animals or how great our taste in music is—to fall by the wayside for an extended period of time. It is important for your psychological well-being that these things remain as constant as possible during these trying times! So think back over your life thus far: What makes up some of your fondest memories? What makes up some of your favorite moments? And ask yourself—what would make me feel better right now? Write down all those things!
Socialization is a major part of human happiness, but being alone doesn’t have to be the end of the world.
Socialization is a major part of human happiness, but being alone doesn’t have to be the end of the world. You can still be happy even if you’re alone, and you can still be happy even if you’re not.
This may seem obvious in theory, but it’s easy to forget when we’re caught up in our own heads over something that seems like an existential crisis for us. This pandemic has taken away so many people from our lives and made us realize how much we rely on other people for our happiness; getting used to this loneliness will take time, but remember: there are plenty of things that make us happy besides social interaction.
Conclusion
In the end, we all need socialization. It’s part of what makes us human. However, there are many ways to combat loneliness and help yourself feel better. Reach out to people and let them know how you’re feeling! You don’t have to suffer in silence.
