Alone But Not Lonely
Have you ever felt alone, but not lonely? You’re not alone! A recent study shows that over a third of the population feels lonely at some point in their lives. From feeling isolated, to social media disconnects, to needing more human connection in your life — there are plenty of reasons you might feel alone. But don't worry; there is someone out there for everyone who is feeling this way. If you’re struggling with feeling lonely without having any friends or family nearby, find a community online or offline that will offer comfort when you need it most. It’s time to stop feeling alone.
SOCIAL MEDIA DISCONNECTS
For decades, people have been questioning the effects of social media and its health on our mental health. But one thing’s for sure — life has changed since this new technology became part of our daily routines. Today, we are given 24/7 access to what a person looks like and what they’re doing every moment of their lives. We soon become accustomed to seeing everything that happens in someone else lives, and begin craving more pictures, more stories and more content on a regular basis. Without the proper balance, we can become addicted to social media and feel lonely and isolated from face-to-face communication.
But let’s be honest—it’s not the fault of social media. It’s our lack of awareness for how we utilize it that allows feelings of loneliness to sink in. We fear disconnecting, stopping ourselves from feeling lonely when we do actually stop using Facebook for a few days, or delete Instagram altogether.
If you need a break from Facebook, here are some tips on “How To Take A Social Media Vacation Without Feeling Guilty” — http://www.teachthought.com/social-media-how-to-take-a-social/
DREAMIN’ OF HUMAN CONTACT
Imagine going out for a night on the town and meeting some new friends. You’re having a great time, having conversations about everything from school and life to your favorite TV series, comedy routines and more. Soon, the night ends and you go your separate ways. No one thinks twice about how you met that night, but they do remember your name—and they’d love to get to know you in person.
Or maybe you’re at a party or a barbecue and meet some new people. The conversation begins as you talk about your job, your family and more. Soon, you strike up a friendship with them and feel very close to this person; but you never get the chance to meet in person. Even if they wanted to come to your house, couldn’t make it or decided not to leave their family life — you wouldn’t be able to be there for them in person.
Although this sounds like something out of a movie, these are everyday experiences that happen every day for millions of us across the globe. Whether the person you meet online is online for hours at a time or gets up and goes to the bathroom, you are left feeling lonely.
Even if you’re in a relationship with someone, getting to know each other through social media won’t make you feel completely connected. You can talk on the phone every day and send text messages to each other all day long, but without face-to-face contact, it won’t be enough. So unless it's a long distance relationship (like traveling overseas), we can be sure loneliness is waiting for us around the corner.
But how can we be sure to avoid loneliness? The first thing is to truly make human connections, rather than relying on a screen for communication. Start by taking a day and going out of your way to meet new people—from coffee shops and diners, to the grocery store or even at the gas station. Talking with them will relieve you of feelings of isolation and help you feel more comfortable communicating with people in person.
THE PAST
While everyone has their own unique reason for feeling lonely, there are some common causes — such as the past. Losing a loved one or a job, going through a divorce — these are all situations that can leave you feeling alone. But there is hope: If you’re the one who lost someone in your life and have been unable to move on, there is always ways to reconnect with them.
Seeing them again in pictures or seeing their story unfold in the news after they have passed away — you could feel isolated and left out as it happens. But by incorporating face-to-face contact, seeing what they’ve been doing since they passed away will help reduce these feelings of loneliness. At the very least, it will give you a sense that they are still watching over you from from the other side.
If you’re the one who lost the job, partnered up or married the wrong person, don’t worry — there are ways to get through your loneliness. Continue building new relationships at work and with your friends. Go visit places that remind you of where you came from and don’t forget to make new friends as well! If it were up to us, we could all be in an excellent place right now; but unfortunately, we can’t control these outside circumstances — we only have control over how we react to them.
Conclusion: Even though you’re free to do whatever you want, it’s important that we all try to meet new people. Take a few hours out of your day to go out in public and make new connections. You’ll feel better knowing that you have someone who is there for you when you're feeling alone and scared.
COPING WITH LONELINESS
If it’s loneliness that you feel, it’s important to know what compels it. Is it because of the people in your daily routine? Maybe people are telling you what to say and do all day long, or maybe the lack of relationship growth is bringing about feelings of isolation and loneliness.