If you were trying to improve your health and wellbeing, what would you think about changing?
Your first instinct may be to eat healthier foods or exercise more frequently. However, new research suggests that your social life might play a more important role in your overall health than you may think.
Read on to discover how loneliness could impact your health, and what you can do to combat it.
What is loneliness?
The Campaign to End Loneliness (CEL) defines loneliness as “a subjective, unwelcome feeling of lack or loss of companionship. It happens when there is a mismatch between the quantity and quality of the social relationships that we have, and those that we want.”
It’s important to understand that social isolation and loneliness are not the same thing. It’s common for people to feel lonely even when they are surrounded by friends or loved ones.
If you’re unsure whether loneliness affects you, you can take an online test to see how you rank on the UCLA loneliness scale.
How can loneliness affect your health?
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers loneliness as one of the most significant global health concerns, as it can affect every aspect of your wellbeing.
People who suffer from chronic loneliness have a higher risk of developing certain mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression as well as dementia.
However, many people don’t know that loneliness can also have a huge impact on your physical health.
A recent study by Harvard University found that adults aged 50 and above who experienced chronic loneliness had a 56% higher risk of stroke than those who consistently reported not being lonely.
Additionally, scientists have linked chronic loneliness with an increased risk of:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
- Susceptibility to viruses and respiratory illnesses
In fact, the US surgeon general warned that the mortality effects of loneliness are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
How can you combat loneliness?
Understandably, no one wants to feel lonely or suffer from a long list of negative side effects. However, learning to connect with new people and overcome anxiety surrounding social interactions can be very difficult for some people.
If you want to beat feelings of loneliness, try some of these methods to build stronger connections with the people around you.
1. Learn how to be comfortable with your own company
Self-esteem issues can often be a root cause of feelings of loneliness, so improving your relationship with yourself can help you to then connect with others.
You can learn to boost your self-esteem and become more comfortable with your own company by taking part in solo activities, such as:
- Going for a walk
- Practising self-care
- Starting a new hobby
- Visiting a café or restaurant.
Enjoying fun things by yourself – especially ones that require social interactions – can help you boost your self-esteem and confidence so you can get out there and start talking to new people.
2. Open up to your loved ones
Loneliness can also be caused by a lack of deep connections with the people you know, or the feeling that those around you aren’t giving you the care or attention you need.
If this is how you feel, it’s important to tell someone you trust, whether that be a family member, friend, or even a coworker.
Although speaking about your feelings can feel intimidating, it’s important to remember that almost everyone experiences loneliness at some point during their lives. Indeed, a recent study found that one in three Britons regularly feel lonely.
Speaking to people you care about and understanding that you are not alone in your feelings can help you connect with your loved ones.
3. Try not to compare yourself with others
As technology has developed over recent years, many of us have changed the way we communicate.
Being able to interact with people online can be a positive thing, as it allows you to speak to loved ones wherever they are and connect with people with similar interests.
However, it’s important to remember that what we see on social media is often carefully curated to make other people’s lives look better than they are.
Constantly seeing photos or videos of your friends and family socialising with others can make you feel like you’re the only person who feels lonely when that is simply not true.
Reminding yourself that social media does not reflect real life and remembering to occasionally disconnect so you can meet up with people in person can help you combat feelings of loneliness.
4. Connect with your community
However, technology can also be a fantastic way to help you build up the courage to speak to new people.
If you’ve felt lonely for a long time, the idea of talking to strangers may seem overwhelming. Starting slow and building yourself up to making new friends can help you to make deep connections with the people around you.
An easy way to start interacting with people is to consider your hobbies and join online communities dedicated to the same interests. Once you are more comfortable speaking to people about your favourite topics, you can look for local groups focused on the same things.
Another method to fight loneliness is to start having short conversations with people you come across in your day-to-day life. This could include your neighbours, people in public spaces, or even the cashier at your local shop.
5. Speak to a therapist
Talking to a therapist could help you explore the cause of your loneliness and come up with personalised plans to build connections with the people around you.
Therapists can help you to develop strategies for dealing with situations you find difficult – for example, helping you overcome anxiety around social interactions – so you can understand how your beliefs and attitudes affect your feelings and behaviour.