I Feel Depressed And Alone (7 coping Strategies)
By
OptimistMinds
As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.
Author bio
The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
In this article, we will look at what happens when you feel depressed and alone. This article also looks into various causes behind you feeling depressed and alone and it also provides 7 helpful strategies to cope with depression and the loneliness associated with it.
I Feel Depressed And Alone
Loneliness and mental health are inextricably linked. When a person is lonely but doesn’t take efforts to mitigate it, they’re more likely to develop depression, and vice versa.
If you’ve been feeling lonely and depressed, you can end the loop and stop your symptoms from getting worse over time.
If you’ve been feeling lonely and depressed, it’s vital to realise that you can overcome these feelings. You have the right to be happy and satisfied, and there are steps that can be taken to achieve that goal.
We’ll look at what you can do to deal with your emotions. We’ll also go over the types of professional aid and treatments that are available if you feel you need it.
Why You May Be Feeling Depressed And Lonely
Loneliness and depression are conditions that people have for a variety of reasons.
When it pertains to loneliness, a person feels alone when their connections lack the depth, closeness, and sincerity that they require to be fulfilled. This could occur for a variety of causes, including:
- You’ve lost someone close to you.
- Divorce or the end of a marriage
- Retiring, getting unemployed, or changing occupations are all possibilities.
- Changing schools, colleges, or universities, or entering higher education
- Moving to a new location far from family, friends, and coworkers
- Birthdays and anniversaries and other seasonal events.
- Having a traumatic life changing event, especially if it goes unresolved.
- Having a mental health problem or an addiction, especially if it goes untreated.
There are various reasons why people suffer from depression, several of which coincide with what can cause loneliness. Following are some examples:
- Experiencing trauma, particularly as a child
- Experiencing a traumatic life event, such as losing your job, getting divorced, or having lost someone you care about
- Having substantial and/or long-term physical health issues
- Having a history of depression and other mental health issues in your family
- Having dealt with mental health issues in the past
- Bearing personality traits like being too judgmental of oneself or having poor self-esteem
9 Strategies To Help You Cope With Loneliness
There are some things you can do if you’re suffering loneliness. Here are nine strategies for dealing with loneliness.
Join a Class or Club
Taking a class or joining a club, whether it’s an art class, a yoga class, or a book club, inevitably introduces you to individuals who share at least one of your hobbies. Look into what’s available at the local library or community college.
Becoming a member of a class or organisation can also create a sense of belonging. This can assist you to be more creative, give you something else to look ahead to during the day, and keep you from feeling lonely.
Volunteer
Volunteering for a cause you care about has many of the same advantages as taking a course or joining a club: you’ll meet new people, be a part of the group, and have new experiences. It also has altruistic effects and can assist you in finding a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.
This can increase contentment and satisfaction levels in addition to reducing loneliness. Working with individuals who are less privileged than you might also make you feel more grateful for what you have.
Find Support Online
Since loneliness is a fairly common problem, countless people will be looking for people to interact with online. Join Facebook or Meetup groups dedicated to your passions to meet individuals who share your interests. Check to see whether any of the applications you use, such as fitness or workout apps, include a social component or a chat room where you can engage.
You should be cautious about who you meet online (and never give out personal information such as your bank account details), but you can find true support, connection, and long-lasting friendships from people you encounter online.
Strengthen Your Current Relationships
You possibly already have people in your life who you could learn more about, or familial relationships that might be strengthened. If that’s the case, why not call your pals more often, get out with them more, and explore other opportunities to enjoy and deepen your current relationships?
If you’re having trouble finding the drive to communicate with your loved ones, start small.Name one supportive friend or family member to whom you could reach out. It’s also comforting to know that having a strong social support network can help your mental wellbeing.
Adopt a Pet
Pets, particularly dogs and cats, provide numerous advantages, one of which is the prevention of loneliness. Taking in a pet combines the advantages of philanthropy and friendship, and it combats loneliness in a variety of ways.
It can introduce you to new people—walking a dog introduces you to a network of other dog walkers, and a lovely puppy on a leash attracts attention. Pets also provide unconditional love and affection, which can be a wonderful antidote to loneliness.
Side Note: I have tried and tested various products and services to help with my anxiety and depression. See my top recommendations here, as well as a full list of all products and services our team has tested for various mental health conditions and general wellness.
Practice Self-Care
If you’re feeling lonely, please ensure you’re taking care of yourself in other ways as well. Self-care is usually a good idea, but it’s especially important when you’re depressed. In the long haul, eating nutritious foods, exercising, and getting adequate sleep can only make us feel better. For fitness and social connection, enrol in a fitness class or join a sports group.
See a Therapist
According to research, loneliness and depression symptoms can reinforce one another, implying that the more lonely you are, the more depressed you seem to be, and vice versa.
It’s not always enough to simply “get out there” and meet new people. It’s understandable to feel lonely even when you’re amongst them, which could indicate depression or social anxiety. If this is the situation for you, seeking psychotherapy to cope with feelings of loneliness may be a smart idea, particularly if you are also experiencing other depressive symptoms.
Some types of therapy, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), can help you adjust your ideas and behaviours so that you not only feel less lonely but also have more strategies to manage it. Whatever you do to overcome loneliness, remember that you are not alone and there are numerous ways to feel more connected.
BetterHelp: A Better Alternative
Those who are seeking therapy online may also be interested in BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers plenty of formats of therapy, ranging from live chats, live audio sessions and live video sessions. In addition, unlimited messaging through texting, audio messages and even video messages are available here.
BetterHelp also offers couples therapy and therapy for teenagers in its platform. Furthermore, group sessions can also be found in this platform, covering more than twenty different topics related to mental health and mental illness. The pricing of BetterHelp is also pretty cost-effective, especially considering the fact that the platform offers financial aid to most users.
Conclusion
In this article, we looked at what happens when you feel depressed and alone. This article also looked into various causes behind you feeling depressed and alone and it also provides 7 helpful strategies to cope with depression and the loneliness associated with it.
Frequently Asked Questions: I Feel Depressed And Alone
Can loneliness change your personality?
Long-term feelings of loneliness and social alienation can impair cognitive abilities, such as concentration, decision-making, problem-solving, and even the ability to change unfavourable self-beliefs. And it has the potential to lead to depression.
How do I know if I am lonely?
You could simply be lonely if you’ve been feeling more anxious than usual lately. “Lonely persons report higher levels of perceived stress even when subjected to the very same stressors as non-lonely persons, and even when they are relaxing,” as per Psychology Today.
What loneliness does to a person?
It can lead to anxiety, emotional distress, addictions, or depression, among other mental health issues. Suicide risk can also be increased by loneliness. Sleep disruption: Chronic loneliness can lead to problems falling asleep and/or sleeping through the night.
What type of therapy can help with loneliness?
Some types of therapy, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), can help you adjust your ideas and behaviours so that you not only feel less lonely but also have more strategies to manage it. Whatever you do to overcome loneliness, remember that you are not alone and there are numerous ways to feel more connected.
Is it bad to be alone all the time?
While spending time alone offers many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits when done in balance, spending a lot of time alone can harm the body and mind. We perform best when there is a good balance, when we spend time alone while also nurturing our intimate relationships.
Why is loneliness a killer?
Social isolation raises the risk of all-cause mortality by 29 percent, whereas loneliness raises it by 26 percent and living alone raises it by 32 percent. A clear correlation has also been established between poor mental health and increased social isolation, with a greater detrimental effect on men and a higher risk of suicide.
Why do wives feel lonely?
In the connection, there is a lack of effort or attention. When people go through the humdrum tides of life, they grow lonely in marriage. If one or both parties believe they aren’t receiving particular, romantic attention, time, or effort from their spouse, this might lead to feelings of loneliness.
What does loneliness do to your brain?
Loneliness is considered to contribute to cognitive decline through a variety of mechanisms, including physical inactivity, symptoms of depression, disturbed sleep, and elevated blood pressure and inflammation. Loneliness has also been linked to a 20 percent increase in the risk of getting dementia.
Why is it hard to be lonely?
People who are lonely may struggle because they believe they are inadequate or unfit. Forming connections with others will be difficult if you are ashamed of who you are. For a variety of reasons, people who have been lonely for a long period of time may be fearful.
References
Overcome Depression and Find Joy in Life Again with BetterHelp
