There are six basic types of loneliness. As loneliness affects people in different ways, here are some techniques for coping with loneliness. “All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.”
– Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me
Dangers of Loneliness and Depression
Research shows that loneliness is really, really bad for our health.
- Loneliness increases the likelihood of death by 26%, Loneliness in young teens heightens the risk for mental health disorders, Loneliness worsens your symptoms and length of illness when sick, and Loneliness lessens children’s immune responses
- Lonely individuals are at higher risk for heart attack, stroke, cognitive decline, and suicide
- Chronic loneliness is a disease that needs early detection and treatments.
How To Deal With Loneliness
Ask for help: Reach out to friends and family with a phone call or a personal visit. Talk about your feelings of isolation to cue in your loved ones.
- If you have a significant other, tell him or her that you’re feeling lonely in the relationship. Sharing your feelings helps open the door to greater social involvement.
Unplug from computer/phone/social media and connect in real life
offline interactions have more positive social effects than online activities
- Young adults and teens who spend a lot of time on social media are twice as likely to feel lonely
- disconnect from technology and put yourself into the real world
Types of Loneliness
Loneliness is complex and unique to each person. One of the best ways to recognize if you or a loved one is struggling with loneliness is to understand the different types.
- Early detection of the beginning stages of loneliness helps interrupt the symptoms from taking root.
For homebound children or adults
In-person visits, phone calls, and old-school mailed cards from you can lift symptoms of loneliness in a family or friend.
- Seek services like “meals on wheels,” “visiting friends,” “pet visit programs” as well as “reach out and read library services.”
Existential loneliness
When mortality is faced by a child or an adult, an isolating sense of loneliness can develop
- Deborah Serani uses her personal experiences with depression to inform her professional work as a clinician, author, and professor
- Dr. Serani has also worked as a technical advisor for the NBC television show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
