9 signs that a person feels lonely

At some point in life, Most of us have experienced brief feelings of loneliness. Especially in critical moments such as the loss of a loved one, moving to a new city, changing school or job… In these cases, it is normal for us to feel alone and we tend to get over it as time goes by. However, there are people who feel lonely for a long period and chronically.

Prolonged feelings of loneliness can negatively affect your health. Specialists even comment that the effect of loneliness and isolation can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

That said, it is vitally important to recognize if we are going through an episode of loneliness. If so, it is essential to intervene immediately to reverse the situation.

What is loneliness?

Laura Alcock-Fergurson, executive director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, says: “Loneliness is the unpleasant feeling a person feels when the quantity and quality of the social relationships they have do not correspond to their expectations. needs”.

Additionally, Alcock-Fergurson adds that loneliness is a bodily sensation, just like hunger or thirst, but in this case the need is connection with another.

We have all experienced loneliness, we know what it feels like. It causes us deep discomfort. Consequently, it is important to overcome it, with the creation of healthy and enriching bonds.

Feeling alone affects your mood.

Signs that a person feels lonely

It is pertinent to take into account that It is not always easy to detect the symptoms of loneliness, since not everyone experiences it in the same way.. However, when a person feels lonely, they usually show the following signs:

Carelessness in appearance or in personal hygiene. Feelings of “uselessness”.poor dietChanges in routine, such as starting to wake up much later than usual.Difficulty connecting with others on a deep, intimate level. Perhaps the person who feels lonely has companions and family, but the degree of connection with them is superficial. Lack of close friends or “best friends.” Additionally, she feels that no one really understands her. Deep feeling of isolation, which is evident in behavior. For example, in a meeting with many people, at work or at school, the person separates and disconnects from the rest. It’s like you’re in your own unbreakable bubble. Feeling of insecurity and low self-esteem. In general, the person who feels lonely believes they are not good enough.Tiredness or fatigue when trying to socialize.

Causes of loneliness

People can feel lonely for multiple reasons.. This experience usually depends on the stage of life they are in, personality characteristics, and personal experiences.

For example, an older person is more likely to feel lonely because they are grieving the death of their longtime partner. While it is more common for a young person to feel alone when moving to another city to attend university.

For his part, Alcock-Fergurson affirms that there are different types of loneliness: emotional loneliness is what we suffer when we miss the company of a particular person. For his part, Social loneliness is what we experience when we desire connection with a larger group of people..

The feeling of loneliness can produce isolation and a feeling of social disconnection.

What to do if a person feels lonely

Loneliness It has been linked to depression, sleeping problems, high blood pressure, psychological stress, and other mental health problems.. Therefore, it is considered essential to confront it.

Mental health charity Mind advises people who feel lonely to Sign up for an activity in which you can share with a group. Ideally, it should correspond to a hobby that interests them.

In this way, they will be able to come into contact with people with similar tastes. Some examples may be: cooking or dance classes. For its part, there are many applications designed to help people find friends.

In case you think that a loved one is feeling alone, the most appropriate solution is to talk. Try to start a conversation and find out how he or she feels. This is also an opportunity to connect with that person and help them not feel alone.

Finally, If you feel that your efforts have not been fruitful, the ideal is to go to psychological therapy. There, the person who feels alone (whether it is you or a loved one) will be able to adequately work on their problems.

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