When people generally talk about preventing loneliness, they often consider two helpful ways are keeping in touch, and reaching out to your supports. Feeling socially connected (and not socially isolated) are important for our wellbeing, and sometimes essential for our safety.
Sometimes though being connected is not in itself enough to prevent loneliness. Some of our loneliest people live with a large family, with a long-term partner, with their soul-mate. Some have regular visits from a well-known carer, have wide circles of friends….have team-mates in their sports groups, and have plenty of people to connect with in their social media worlds. And they can still feel a deep loneliness.
Loneliness is complex; so there are several other possibilities – sometimes in combination with another – to consider when thinking about preventing loneliness:
Your external environment has some barrier preventing you seeing the faces, and having touch, with the people most dear to you.
Examples
You have personal barriers where you may physically get to see and touch people dear to you, but you aren’t able to communicate in the way you would like to.
Examples
Your life situation has changed dramatically, and so you don’t fit in the same as you used to.
Examples
Those physically close to you might be subconsciously influencing your feelings. The ripple effect of other people feeling depressed, anxious or lonely can affect our own feelings of loneliness.
Examples
Examples
You feel that the reality of some or all your relationships is no longer the same as your expectations; your conversations are no longer meaningful.
Examples
Just as there is no one cause of loneliness, there is no one solution to fix loneliness. Your unique situation is what brings you to feel lonely, so evaluating your own situation in your context is important.
We’re adding articles to help you understand various aspects of preventing loneliness. If you need further help, consider using a Loneliness NZ mentor to guide you in what steps you can take to help yourself become less lonely.