"Breaking the Silence: Simple Ways to Combat Loneliness"
Jennifer Jefferies
The Present Day Wise Woman ? Global Keynote Speaker ? Virtual Presenter ? Naturopath ? Podcaster ?Mentor ?Rookie Filmmaker?????
Fear, loneliness, isolation, inability to work, financial worries, loss of self-esteem are some of the triggers that has seen an 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. World Health Organisation
Mental Health Services Australia reported widespread restrictions of movement, social distancing measures, physical isolation and lockdowns were widely implemented from March 2020. The sudden loss of employment and social interaction, with added stressors of moving to remote work or schooling, and more recently, impacts of sudden, localised lockdowns to prevent further outbreaks have negatively impacted the mental health of many Australians. “The pandemic has the potential to contribute to or exacerbate mental illness they reported.
In Australia, just over 1 in 6 people reported experiencing loneliness in 2022 and today 52 countries in the world have either a “Loneliness Minister” in their government or a “Loneliness Policy”.
Loneliness transcends mere emotional distress; it poses significant health risks comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, as noted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US surgeon general. Its impact on our physical health includes a compromised immune system and heightened inflammation, which can lead to cardiovascular diseases and other chronic illnesses.
Mentally, loneliness links with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. The psychological toll is compounded by social withdrawal, which feeds the problem and undermines a person’s self-esteem and ability to connect with others.
In today’s digital world, despite being more connected than ever through social media and online platforms, online connections often lack the depth and authenticity of face-to-face relationships. Online tools are showing to exacerbate feelings of loneliness by building superficial connections that fail to satisfy our social needs.
While I have never personally experienced loneliness, I have thrived on being a lone wolf. My comfort zone as an introvert is to withdraw and play by myself. When the shutdowns started, and I noticed that I was not thinking so positively, and my moods were not as light like normally. I knew that I needed to get my shit together, no matter how uncomfortable I was. I needed to stop hiding from the world and start to play with others.
I took up surfing at 56. Travelling nine months a year as a professional speaker, I scooted around the edges of the surfing community. Being a lone wolf, I could engage as I wanted on my terms. So, when all of this happened, and I noticed how I was feeling, there were a few things I did to get back into the community.
The first was to help pull together a women’s surfboard riders’ group on the Gold Coast where I live. The ‘Surf Witches’ grew from 11 to more than 3000 during those few years. During the initial lockdowns when we could not go and surf or hang at the beach, I started a weekly zoom call when anyone could get one with a “cuppa”, a beer, a wine or anything just to chat and connect. Now, I started this as much for my own mental health as theirs and it was worth it. The cool thing was that we all benefited.
I play the ukulele for fun and instead of playing on my own at home, I joined a local meet up of musicians who meet at Currumbin beach on Friday mornings and just play for fun and community. Today that’s always a priority for me if I am not travelling.
Today, I also volunteer with the local “Veterans Backyard”. This is a community gardening project at my local RSL club, where veterans like me can go, help and connect with other veterans.
Doing things like joining clubs, volunteering, or catching up with mates, can bring a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation. Can it be hard to take the first step? Absolutely, and my secret to joining meet ups etc is, when I get there, I look for someone standing on their own and I go over to them and say, “hi I’m Jen, I don’t know anyone, can I chat with you please”. That has always worked well for me as I generally find another introvert or shy person feeling the same way. I now have a new friend to build on. Of course, professional support if needed.
The loneliness “epidemic” is not going away anytime soon with people more disconnected than ever, so we can mindfully connect, engage in community and “see” others who may be withdrawing and offer a helping hand.
I find it interesting that the first subject I studied as a naturopath was that of the state of hopelessness and how dangerous it is to our health. We need hope. The fact that there was no predictability and so much uncertainty, saw the state of helplessness rise in the general population.
For me, very soon into this change I said, enough. This is not going away anytime soon, the world changed, and we can’t change that. What we can change is our response to what was happening. Like I had taught for decades, our bodies need to adapt to stress. If we adapt, we thrive, if we don’t, we die. #loneliness #LonelinessAwarenessWeek #jenthenaturopath #thepresentdaywisewoman #MrsJen #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #womeninspiringwomen #womenempoweringwomen #smartsassyseniors #smartsassywoman #smartsassywomen #speaker #professionalspeaker
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When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come…
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Debbie Porter
?You are fantastic !
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The reality is that most people dream within their time and money constraints they have right now. The thing is dreams are meant to not be limited. So what do you really dream? Really let your mind expand to where there are no limits. I prefer to live into an extraordinary life rather than a realistic one. It's time to let yourself dream again.
#thepresentdaywisewoman
#jenthenaturopath
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Tracy Hutchins
Im always dreaming to live my best life, on my terms. Traveling, seeing places I've never seen before, visiting friends I've not seen in years, all while having fun, of course with my son by my side.
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Nina Hanna
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Just another check in. I tried using the shake as kind of cereal but I’m not keen on it all. I can taste the powder more. I’ll just keep the shake in the oatmeal or shake.
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I did increase the ionix by about 1/2 ounce before bed and that helped a lot. I’m back to sleeping through the night again. Thank you. The schedule on the calendar has been working really great. I find I’m not really wanting the snacks during the day. Just wanted to give you an update. BTW I’m loving your podcasts
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Hye Nina thanks for commenting on my post. how are you doing over there
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Nina
In the Muslim Holy Book named AL-QURA'AN, our GOD/ALLAH/YAH said (in my words) O' Prophet peace be upon him whether they Accept or Reject, Your (p.b.u.h.) only Duty is to tell the people of the World, about ISLAM.
3 个月LONELINESS It’s our reality that we came into this World ALONE, although we have two, three or six, seven brothers and sisters. But as we grow up, those people who get married but still as they grow up and reach or cross the age 60 or 70 or sometimes 80 and finally die, when buried, we have to pass that time ALONE. But what if we pass our time ALONE now? I don’t think it’s impossible. Just there is LOVE of Our GOD/ALLAH and LOVE of our Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa peace be upon him must be present in our Heart. Please think.