Periods of loneliness are to be expected as a natural part of life, but when it starts to weigh on your mental health, it’s time to take action.

Loneliness is something everyone will most likely experience at some stage in life, but depending on the depth of these feelings, and their root cause, it can take an extensive toll on your mental health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and isolation requirements likely exacerbated the prevalence of loneliness, Loneliness isn’t about being physically alone. Loneliness is a feeling that the quantity and quality of our relationships are not as good as we might wish. This is different from being isolated or alone, which are more objective measures of how much time we spend with how many other people, or solitude, which can in fact be positive and restorative for wellbeing.

Loneliness can be social, where we feel a lack of social connections, emotional, where we feel like we lack meaningful relationships to the extent that we don’t belong, and/ or existential, where we might feel entirely separate from other people.

Acknowledging how you’re feeling is an important first step in tackling loneliness. 

REACH OUT - Connect to others - a friend, a sibling, a neighbour and express how you’re feeling. The University of Southern California researchers tested the saying “a problem shared is a problem halved” - they found it does indeed reduce stress, lowering cortisol, so try it out for yourself. You may be surprised how unaware they are about how you’re feeling or you may discover others are in a similar situation. Spend time building and developing those connections that really matter.

GET ACTIVE - Exercise sounds like too simple a cure for such a complex problem, but it is a start. Getting active - walk, cycle, garden, just moving will help you to release endorphins which will boost your mood and help you to stay motivated to make deeper connections. Joining a club activity has the added benefit of meeting like[1]minded individuals too.

LEARN SOMETHING - Trying something new can be a huge boost to your confidence, and reduces the time you have to dwell on feelings of loneliness. Ever wanted to learn French, paint a watercolour or take up Bridge? Now’s the time.

SWITCH OFF - We’re all on our devices too much and it’s having a detrimental effect on our mental health. While social media may make you feel connected to other people’s lives, it’s only on a surface level and it rarely works both ways. Can’t go cold turkey? Set yourself a time cap and make a promise to yourself to never start or end a day with your phone in your hand. Try it for one month and see if it doesn’t make a difference.

For more advice on coping with loneliness, check out www2.hse.ie/ mental-health/life-situations-events/ loneliness/coping-with/