Managing Loneliness and Isolation

Although many of us experience loneliness at one time or another, it is often overlooked or dismissed. However, chronic loneliness can have an impact on one's mental health. Isolation and loneliness during the pandemic may present specific mental health risks for households with adolescents and for older adults. The share of older adults (ages 65 and up) reporting negative mental health impacts has increased since March. Polling data shows that women with children under the age of 18 are more likely to report major negative mental health impacts than their male counterparts. It is important to address loneliness and of the steps we can take to reduce isolation.

Loneliness can lead to various psychiatric disorders like depression, alcohol abuse, child abuse, sleep problems, personality disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. It also leads to various physical disorders like diabetes, autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and cardiovascular diseases like coronary heart disease, hypertension (HTN), obesity, physiological aging, cancer, poor hearing and poor health. Left untended, loneliness can have serious consequences for mental and physical health of people. Therefore it is important to intervene at the right time to prevent loneliness, so that physical and mental health of patients is maintained.

What are the main signs and symptoms of chronic loneliness?

When loneliness and isolation continues long-term, it can be considered chronic and lead to more serious signs and symptoms. Those signs might include:

• Inability to connect with others on a deeper, more intimate level. Engagement with friends and family is surface level.
• No close or "best" friends. You have friends, but they are casual friends or acquaintances and you feel you can find no one who truly "gets" you.
• Overwhelming feeling of isolation regardless of where you are and who’s around.
• Negative feelings of self-doubt and self-worth.
• When you try to connect or reach out, it’s not reciprocated, and you’re not seen or heard.
• Exhaustion and burn out when trying to engage socially. Continued feelings of being drained can lead to other issues like sleep problems, a weakened immune system, poor diet, and more.

What are some tips for dealing with chronic loneliness?

If you or someone you know is struggling with chronic loneliness or isolation, there is help available.

• Talk to your doctor, a therapist, or another health care professional. Chronic loneliness isn’t limited to feelings of social isolation and alienation from others. It is often tied to ongoing and deeply rooted negative beliefs about yourself that can eventually lead to other medical and emotional problems. Let someone know what’s going on.
• Engage with other people in a positive, healthy way. Even though it may be difficult, try making the effort to connect with others. Volunteering, hobby clubs, workout groups, and other opportunities, can help boost self-esteem and provide a safe and satisfying way to connect with others.
• Get some exercise and sunlight. Getting active and out in the sunshine can help elevate endorphins and serotonin. These “brain hormones” can boost mood, help improve sleep, and make people feel happier.
• Find a support group, especially if chronic loneliness is a side effect of some other issue you might be dealing with, such as substance use, loss of a loved one, loneliness from a divorce or break up, a chronic and isolating illness, etc. Receiving support and encouragement from others who may share similar feelings, could help ease symptoms of chronic loneliness.

Chronic loneliness is not just about feeling alone; if left unchecked it can put an individual at risk for serious physical and emotional issues. If you know someone struggling, our team at Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 972.982.0900 to speak with a licensed clinician today.