Studies suggest that both women and men continue to make a lot of friends until they reach the age of 25. After this, friendships begin to decline rapidly sparking feelings of loneliness.
If you continue to ask yourself, “why do I feel lonely,” you might be at the age where friends are going more than they are coming. However, there are things you can do to combat loneliness.
Keep reading to learn more.
Why Do I Feel Lonely?
Why do I feel lonely even when I am surrounded by people? Many individuals feel this way and it’s common for everyone to feel this way at least once in their lives.
Whether they are aware of it or not, all human beings can struggle internally with loneliness. Individuals tend to feel lonely around others when they can’t be themselves or if the individuals around them have different beliefs.
Despite being in a relationship or surrounded by others, you might feel lonely from:
- Mental health conditions like depression
- Health conditions like chronic conditions, terminal illness, and disabilities
- Loss and grief
- Racism or discrimination
- Trauma
- Migration to a new country
- Lack of meaningful relationships
- Existential crisis
- Attachment or communication problems in a relationship
It’s a process to overcome feelings of loneliness, but these feelings don’t have to last forever.
Reassess Thinking and Regain Hope
Feeling lonely often comes from a mental place. If you practice seeing things from a different perspective and associate things with positive emotion, you can regain hope.
For example, start treating your time alone as an opportunity to connect with yourself and grow. Solitude can be healthy with the right attitude because it improves cognition and fosters clarity in thinking.
When you have feelings of loneliness, try engaging in mindfulness activities that can help dissipate these feelings. Start practicing meditation, tai chi, or yoga during your free time.
If you look forward to these activities, you might start thinking about alone time in a positive light.
Practice Self-Compassion
To learn to be happy alone, practice activities that focus on self-compassion. Meditation can help with this practice as well, along with mindful walks and physical activity.
Taking care of yourself by using compassion will strengthen the bond you have with yourself. Over time, you’ll learn to embrace moments alone and use them to engage in positive improvement activities.
Write Down Your Feelings and Thoughts
Buy a journal or use the notes app on your phone to write down your feelings and thoughts.
Journaling about fun memories can help bring joy into your life. Write yourself a gratitude letter that outlines everything you love about yourself.
Writing is also a great way to get out some of your negative feelings rather than bottling them in. Putting your thoughts out there can help you process what you are feeling and look at your thoughts from a different perspective.
Reach Out to Old Friends
If you have no friends, feelings of loneliness are probably a common occurrence in your life. Take the initiative to connect with old friends that you’ve lost touch with.
Friendship is a significant component of quality of life and can help dissipate a sense of loneliness.
Reach out to those that have made you feel happy and productive when they were in your life. These friends might help you reconnect with positive aspects within yourself that you may have lost.
Invite Someone on a Walk
When you decide to reconnect with an old friend, something as simple as inviting them for a walk can help feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Exercising increases endorphins so that you can feel better about your life. Doing it with company will foster a sense of well-being that can help you overcome loneliness.
Make each walk extra special by switching routes every time you walk. You can also pick different times in the day for going on a walk so that you can enjoy sunsets, sunrises, and other stunning views.
Make conversation with your friend but also be mindful of your surroundings.
Talking to friends is an effective strategy to combat loneliness, but you can also use these tips in other areas of your life:
- Start conversations with anyone
- Invite people out without the fear of rejection
- Look for the good in every individual you meet
- Tell someone you are feeling lonely
Be open to others if making friends isn’t so easy for you.
Join a Club or Organization
Even if you start feeling good about being alone, it’s important for your mental and physical health to be around people every so often.
Joining a social club or taking up a social activity during your past time will help with feelings of loneliness. Consider these ideas:
- Joining an exercise-related
- Taking up a hobby and connecting with others that have the same interest
- Attending church
- Volunteering at a local non-profit
These days, there are also a lot of online communities that you can join for different topics like book lovers, gaming, and movie buffs.
Seek Out Professional Help
If you believe that you’ve done several things to stop feelings of loneliness with no luck, seeking out professional help might be the solution you are looking for.
These are common signs that you should seek out additional support:
- Episodes of irritability
- Bouts of tearfulness
- Overeating or undereating from loneliness
- Excessive sleepiness, staying in bed all day, and chronic fatigue
- Loss of motivation to take care of yourself
Naya Clinics offers therapy for individuals trying to work through a personal tough spot in their life.
What’s Next for Me?
Feelings of loneliness from time to time are common, but if you find that you are asking yourself, “why do I feel lonely” often, trying out different strategies can help you overcome the issue.
Start by reassessing the way you think and practicing self-compassion. Reach out to old friends and don’t be afraid to try to make new ones through shared hobbies and interests.
If you find that nothing is working, seeking out professional help is the next logical step.
For more articles like this, check out the other posts on our blog.