Loneliness and isolation
Loneliness is a painful feeling of lacking meaningful social connections. It’s not necessarily about being alone, but about feeling alone. Loneliness can affect anyone, regardless of age, marital status, or number of friends. Long-term loneliness is not only painful – it can also negatively affect physical and mental health.
Social isolation, where one actually has little contact with other people, can reinforce the feeling of loneliness. Factors such as moving, relationship breakdowns, loss of close relationships, retirement, or working from home can contribute to loneliness.
Symptoms
- Feeling like an outsider or not belonging
- Longing for closeness and community
- Difficulty establishing or maintaining relationships
- Social anxiety or discomfort in social situations
- Low mood and feeling of emptiness
- Low self-esteem and feeling of not being worthy of knowing
- Physical ailments such as sleep difficulties and fatigue
When should you contact a psychologist?
- Loneliness characterizes your daily life
- You have withdrawn from social contexts
- Loneliness leads to low mood or anxiety
- You have difficulty making contact with others
- You experience social anxiety that hinders you
- You want help building meaningful relationships
Treatment
A psychologist at Eyr can help you explore the causes of loneliness and develop strategies for building social connections. Therapy may include working on social skills, managing social anxiety, challenging negative thoughts about yourself and others, and gradually increasing social activity. Video consultation makes it easy to take the first step towards getting help.
