If you’re going through any kind of big life change right now, be it a breakup, a move to a new city, or any kind of alienating situation, you may end up feeling isolated without realizing it.
But that’s not bad, right? Well, being lonely may be normal, but it also increases your risk of mortality by 26 percent, according to a recent study. That’s not a great number.
So how do you know if you’ve fallen into a trap of loneliness? See if any of these sound like you:
You’re on Facebook constantly. Everyone goes on Facebook every so often, but being on it all the time just means that you’re allowing yourself to look at everyone else’s lives and feel like they’re doing more than you. Don’t let Facebook make you feel inferior.
You just watched an entire show in one night. Binge watching is totally natural in this day and age. However, if you’re using that binge watching session to distract you from the fact that you’re alone on a Friday night again, it may be a sign that you’re lonelier than you thought.
You spend a lot of time in the shower. Warm showers are a great way to get clean, but one study says that the lonelier someone is, the longer and hotter their showers and baths are. If you frequently use a long, warm shower as a coping mechanism, you may be trying to substitute physical warmth for social warmth.
You’ve lost your social mojo. One study says that lonely people can understand social situations, but have a harder time actually performing in them. Don’t worry, you’re just out of practice. ##MN_RESP##
You’re not recharging when you’re alone. Spending time alone is a good way to get your creative juices flowing, to restore your focus, and to do some self-reflection, But if you’re lonely, you probably didn’t choose this “me” time, so you’re probably trying to avoid thinking about it with social media and TV.
So what do you do about it?
If you’ve just moved to a new town, look up groups or clubs in your area that revolve around your interests.
If you just went through a breakup, try giving your friends a call. It can be exhausting to organize social gatherings, but it may be what gets you out of your rut.
If you’re home a lot, get a pet. Taking care of something/someone else is one of the best treatments for loneliness out there. And having a pet means that you have a companion whenever you need one.
If you’re chronically lonely, ask for help. If your loneliness is driving you to depression, it may be time to get help. Look into individual or group therapy through your healthcare provider so you can start to get better.
