PART ONE
Source: CentralJersey.com
Establishing social connections can help prevent loneliness. Here are some ideas to help you stay connected:
– Find an activity that you enjoy, pick up a hobby, join a club, or take a class to learn something new. You will meet people with similar interests and have fun along the way.
– Schedule time each day to stay in touch with family, friends, and neighbors. Talk with people you trust and share your feelings. Suggest activities that help nurture and strengthen existing relationships.
– Volunteering can help foster a sense of purpose and cultivate new relationships with others.
– Spending time outdoors is good for your mental and physical health and increases the opportunity to meet other people — whether you are walking along a trail, or simply sitting on a park bench.
– Make small talk. Say “hello” to the cashier at the grocery store, ask the barista at the coffee shop how their day is going, congratulate a colleague on a work success. These seemingly small interactions can make a big impact on combatting loneliness.
– Kids can combat loneliness by participating in clubs as well as in-person or online support groups.
– For younger adults, enrolling in a class or school that is of interest to them can help them get out and meet like-minded people.
If you are feeling lonely and isolated a lot of the time, talk with your doctor. They may recommend seeking treatment from a mental health professional, especially if you have symptoms of depression or anxiety, which include:
– Neglecting self-care activities, such as showering, grooming, and eating properly.
– Difficulty with sleep, like difficulty falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much.
– Fatigue or frequently feeling tired.
– Difficulty concentrating.
– Changes in appetite.
– Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
– Recurrent feelings of sadness or feeling down or depressed most of the day, nearly every day.
If you are struggling with feelings of loneliness and isolation, help is available. For more information about Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health or to find a therapist with Princeton House, call (888) 437-1610 or visit PrincetonHouse.org.