Loneliness During Lockdown
Loneliness During Lockdown
During the lockdown, there are many struggles that you may be facing. Whether you're a keyworker who is working in high-risk conditions or you're trying to salvage your business during a time that it can no longer run, there are several reasons that you may not be coping during this uneasy and uncertain time.Another vigilant issue that could arise due to the UK lockdown is the feeling of loneliness. Maybe you already live alone, or you are at university and weren't able to return home before the lockdown conditions commenced; whatever the reason, the reality is, you're alone during this isolating and worrying situation. Because of feeling lonely, our mindset can take a negative turn, leading us to struggle even further during the lockdown. Continue reading this blog for my advice on coping with loneliness during the UK lockdown. I am going to address the matter of loneliness, as well as how you can fill that void that your loved ones once did.
What Is Loneliness?
One thing that gets misconstrued about loneliness is that it's not just the feeling that we get when being entirely alone. You can feel lonely while being surrounded by people who may not understand you as a person, who you don't get on with or who you cannot express your feelings to. There are many ways that you can feel lonely. During lockdown rules, you might be living with a parent who you don't have a healthy relationship with, or you could be completely alone. Lockdown loneliness is a pressing issue, and if you do not find a way to reintroduce socialisation and happiness, you might come out the other end of the pandemic with an unhealthy mindset.
Loneliness Strategies
There are many ways that you can ensure that you're still interacting with your friends and family, as well as expressing your emotions during a time that they need to be expressed. The first loneliness strategy that I am going to address is an obvious one; nonetheless, one that is highly effective.
Online Platforms and Social Media
There are plenty of digital resources available to you in order to keep in touch with your friends and family. If texting and calling aren't cutting it, try a video call over Zoom or FaceTime. By sending the odd message and making the occasional call, you are continuing your relationships; allowing you to pick up where you left off post-lockdown.Also, who's better to listen to how you feel than those who love you the most? Yes, some people may forget to check-in because they too are struggling at this time, but by being open and honest, you may find that they can relate or simply want to become a support system for you.
Keep a Diary
Although you aren't speaking to another individual by jotting down in a diary, you are expressing your feelings effectively. This would be especially helpful for someone who finds it hard to open up about their emotions to others; instead, they can write it down in a safe and secure place that only has to reach another person's eyes if they choose to let it.This can significantly help your feeling of loneliness because although you aren't receiving advice on your thoughts and emotions, you are still releasing them out of a place that once buried them.
Social Distancing
As long as you're keeping to the rules, you are still able to socialise with who you see out and about. When you go to the shop, ask the sales assistant how they are, and if you go on a walk, say hello to the neighbour. As long as you're keeping 2m apart and you're not going out your way to visit people or make contact with one another, you can socialise.A simple hello can make you feel a lot less alone. Getting out of the house, more importantly, will benefit your mental health greatly, especially if you're feeling alone. Being cooped up within the same four walls for weeks on end isn't healthy, and so I do recommend that you get out and converse with those who could be feeling the same as you.
Counselling During Lockdown
Another great way of expressing your thoughts and feelings, as well as gaining some interaction is through counselling sessions. Currently, I am offering online counselling sessions to my current clients, as well as new clients who would benefit from having someone to listen and speak to.Counselling provides an individual with a safe space and a professional who is willing to listen, learn and advise that person on what they should do to benefit their mental health. As a counsellor with years of experience in the industry, I have a broad knowledge of what issues that you could be facing, as well as effective strategies that I know have worked in the past for people that have been in a similar situation to you.Whether you want to have a counselling session over the phone or video call, I will ultimately be there to listen to you, learn why you feel this way and explore ways in which we can work together to find an outcome that's going to benefit you now and in future.If you'd like further information on my counselling services or for more guidance on what you can be doing during the UK lockdown in order to tackle your loneliness, please contact me today on 07914 952723 or through my website. Loneliness during lockdown is a pressing matter and one that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later so that the thoughts and feelings that you're experiencing don't become a permanent frame of mind. There will be an end to this pandemic, and I am confident that you can be in the right mindset for a quality life when it is over.