All You Need to Know

• Are there different types of loneliness?

  Yes - these are the most common types of loneliness:

  • Emotional loneliness – when people you were close to are no longer there.
  • Social loneliness – when you feel isolated, and you don't have a social network of family and friends.
  • Transient loneliness – when you feel lonely from time to time.
  • Situational loneliness – when you feel lonely at certain times, for example, weekends, or holidays when your friends go away temporarily.
  • Chronic loneliness – when you feel lonely most or all of the time.

• What can cause loneliness?

  There can be a variety of reasons why you might experience loneliness.

  Some common examples are:

  • Moving away from home
  • Starting a new school or job
  • Someone close to you dying
  • Friends moving away or moving to a different school, college or university.

• Why does loneliness make me unhappy?

  It is human nature to feel safest in a group, so when we feel isolated it is stressful for us.

  Imagine if you lived in a tribe and while you went out hunting, you found yourself alone. You would be at risk of being attacked by predators without the protection of your group – your brain would trigger the fight or flight response and your stress levels would rise until you are back with the safety of your tribe.

  The same thing happens when you feel alone today, except you will very rarely be at risk of being harmed by predators! However, your brain reacts to isolation in the same way and makes you feel uncomfortable.

• What can I do about feeling lonely?

  If you're feeling lonely, try any of these things to make you feel better:

  • Organise a weekly video call with a friend or family.
  • Go for a walk and call a friend – some people find it easier to talk when moving about.
  • Write a letter to someone.
  • Find out if there are any walking/sport social groups in the area you might want to join.
  • Volunteer to help at a local charity.
  • Get a pet - they provide emotional support and connection as well as companionship.

• I am avoiding social situations

  This is known as social withdrawal and is a common sign of depression. You become isolated as you withdraw from other people, including family and friends, because you feel sad, hopeless, ashamed, tired or not interested.

  Depression can make you want to pull away from other people and 'shut down'. Becoming isolated can be dangerous and can increase the risk of other mental health problems.

  These are examples of social withdrawal:

  • Avoiding social activities that you previously enjoyed or turning down invitations to spend time with others
  • Making excuses to be alone
  • Avoiding situations that involve meeting new people or being less talkative in group settings
  • Not starting conversations and avoiding open-ended questions when talking to others
  • Not wanting to try new things
  • Avoiding any unfamiliar setting or situation
  • Taking jobs or tasks that require you to work alone
  • Preferring to stay home and be by yourself.