Written By Ayesha Singh
Being solitary is commonly known as loneliness. Aloneness, forlornness, friendlessness, remoteness, seclusion, solitariness, withdrawal are parts of the unchosen factor of loneliness. The feeling of being all by yourself and not having anyone kills one internally. This feeling of not belonging makes one suffer, suffer in such a way that it could never be defined. It makes one feel empty, alone, and unwanted. Loneliness is not just being physically alone, it’s a state of mind, where one feels an extreme emotional disconnect, having no emotional dependency, a painful suffering without being heard. Loneliness is similar to squealing, crying, pleading in a sound proof room, you can only wish for someone to hear you. It’s a state of extreme distress and discomfort
Now some people feel lonely at certain time periods where as some have a more prolonged feeling of abandonment. This prolonged feeling of being alone is called “Chronic Loneliness”. Chronic loneliness occurs when feeling of solidarity, remoteness and social isolation continue for a long period of time. It’s a constant and unrelenting feelings of being alone, separated or divided from others, and an inability to connect. It raises concerning feelings of self-doubt, low self-esteem and social anxiety.
Some experts say that the symptoms of loneliness are decreased energy, not wanting to do anything or not having the energy or emotional strength to do it, feeling dim, dingy or unable to focus, sleeplessness, sleep deprivation or interrupted sleep, a juxtaposition of feeling hungry all the time and a decreased appetite, peculiar feelings of self-doubt, an obscure feeling of worthlessness, physical feelings of restlessness, body ache or nausea, many people start to binge-watch shows or movies which is very common during chronic loneliness.
People going through loneliness crave social interactions but without the factor of being judged and rather crave for the feeling of comfort. A lonely person always anticipates on assurance during their social interactions due the constant feeling of abandonment, they also crave for physical warmth, such as hot drinks, baths, or cozy clothes and blankets to fill in the void.
Chronic loneliness leads to mental health issues such as depression. Thereby there should be more awareness regarding the issue of chronic loneliness to mitigate and forsee the exacerbation of one’s mental health.
So how to deal with chronic loneliness at early or mid-stages? Practice gratitude, be grateful for your surroundings, start meditating or doing yoga. Connect with yourself, try to make a journal or diary where you jot down about your day, analyse yourself and try to figure out the origin of your feelings. Find a hobby and do it for about 30-45 minutes a day. It helps one increase their self-esteem. If you are an animal lover, get a pet, pets make you feel more responsible and comforting which will help you mitigate your emotional distress. One can also try doing to more social for example Join a club, volunteer at school or college, go for community activities and furthermore.
Featured Image Courtesy – The Center for Contemplative Practice
