How To Overcome The Feeling Of Loneliness By Connecting With Others
The feeling of loneliness is one of the most seen and addressed forms of discomfort in psychotherapy consultations. Sometimes it appears in people who suffer mainly because of their difficulties in meeting people or in achieving deep and satisfying emotional connections: in other cases, this feeling is a consequence of a psychological disorder that makes it difficult to relate well with others.
In any case, it is not necessary to suffer from psychopathology for feeling alone to be seen as a serious problem. Therefore, in this article We will see several strategies to connect with others and deal with the feeling of loneliness
Let’s start by defining the problem: what is the feeling of loneliness? In this case, we are talking about a set of emotions and feelings of a negative nature (that is, associated with displeasure) that persist persistently in a person’s daily life and have to do with their dissatisfaction with the quality and/or quantity of emotionally significant personal relationships That is to say, although in certain specific situations we may “feel alone” (such as, for example, going to meditate in a forest in the morning), in this case we are talking about an experience that shapes how a person experiences their life in their globality, and that causes discomfort.
Thus, it is worth noting that feeling alone is the same as being alone, but without frequently surrounding yourself with many people. There are those who are perfectly happy with hardly any interaction with other human beings, and there are those who feel alone despite being very popular. The main criterion for defining what it means to feel alone is provided by oneself, and is unique to each individual.
Thus, we come to the conclusion that although being alone does not have to always be negative, feeling alone is, in general, a problem that produces a greater or lesser level of dissatisfaction. Let’s see what to do to remedy it.
What to do when feeling lonely?
These are several key ideas to keep in mind to deal with the feeling of loneliness.
1. Take the problem as what it is
Many people who suffer from the feeling of loneliness fall into the trap of believing that this is the way of life to which they are condemned, something irremediable and that it has to do with their identity and their way of being. Seen from perspective, it is irrational, but we must keep in mind that after many past experiences in which we have felt frustration, disappointment, sadness and ultimately dissatisfaction with personal relationships, it is “easy” to get carried away by this idea.
So, the first thing to do to overcome the feeling of loneliness is become aware that no one is predestined to suffer because of it This is a problem (not a condemnation) to which it is possible to find solutions, and we cannot let this pessimism lead us to self-sabotage or even try to improve our situation.
2. Seek help
Seeking help is, on the one hand, an effective measure to meet people and/or strengthen ties, and on the other, it is a declaration of intentions: It makes no sense to consider overcoming loneliness if we are going to be hiding our feelings and vulnerabilities.
Of course, this does not mean trying to emotionally kidnap others by giving them pity (something that does nothing good for any of the parties involved), but rather giving relevant information about ourselves and our psychological state, and exploring possible solutions together. , having support.
Depending on the degree of discomfort that this feeling of loneliness produces, it is advisable to go beyond asking for help from family and friends and go to psychological therapy In this way, a professional will approach your case in a personalized way and will be committed to providing tools to improve emotional management and socialization and communication strategies, and to monitor your progress. In addition, psychotherapy may be what you need to treat possible psychological disorders associated with loneliness: depression, social phobia, etc.
3. Exploit the potential of the Internet
Today, the Internet makes it possible to meet and make friends with people from almost all parts of the world. Platforms such as social networks, forums or websites for fans of specific hobbies are a medium in which thousands of people establish relationships every day In addition, not having to start a face-to-face conversation from the beginning makes things much easier, as does having profiles in which we can read and write about each other’s interests and way of being.
Of course, be sure to set limits on your use of these digital platforms so that they do not absorb the majority of your free time or prevent you from having access to face-to-face relationships.
4. Take care of your physical and mental health
Taking care of yourself will not only allow you to have a better image; besides, It will give you confidence in yourself and strengthen your emotional management skills, something very important when establishing and maintaining functional personal relationships. Therefore, get enough sleep, maintain a good level of personal hygiene, stay in shape by exercising frequently, and eat well.
Exposing yourself to culture will help you not only better understand the society you live in, but also help you learn about other points of view and be more likely to find common ground with others.
6. Listen and care about others
Leaving behind the feeling of loneliness is not just about letting others satisfy your needs to connect with someone ; It is a two-way process in which you both contribute and can feel useful. Therefore, make sure you are there when others need you, show interest in understanding their points of view, and adopt the principles of active listening. Only if you notice that they demand much more from you than they give you, consider breaking that dynamic.
Are you interested in psychotherapy services?
If you are considering starting a psychotherapy process and are interested in having the help of mental health professionals, we invite you to contact us.
In Psychology For We have been treating patients for more than 20 years, and currently we offer our services to individual patients of any age, as well as families and couples. We work in the areas of psychotherapy, couples or family therapy, psychiatry, neuropsychology and coaching, and sessions can be carried out in person at our center in Madrid or through online therapy.
