Latest news with #CampaigntoEndLoneliness
Cosmopolitan
31-07-2025
- General
- Cosmopolitan
Data Shows That Young Women Are Just as Lonely as Men
A few years ago, my mom and I had a blowout fight. I can't recall what sparked the argument, but what I do remember is lying on the bathroom floor and sobbing as I scanned my texts for someone to reach out to who could keep me distracted from all the sadness. In my phone were the names of dozens of girls I met during my time at college, when I was rotating through late-night clubbing, brunches, and concerts in an attempt to get closer to people I hoped would one day be bridesmaids at my wedding. But truthfully? These friendships were superficial—nothing like what I watched and coveted in the TV show Girls. I couldn't rely on them during a panic attack. And if you can't call a friend at 10 p.m. on a weekday when the snot coming out of your nose has made you unintelligible, are they even a friend? I am a successful 21-year-old who is a published journalist and works a good, degree-aligned job. I live happily in New York City. I work out, love nature, and have a great boyfriend. The only thing missing? Friends. I lack them, and although this feels almost radical to confess these days, I know for a fact I'm not alone in it. Today, lonely women like me abound, and the data backs this up. About 1 in 6 Americans say they feel lonely or isolated from those around them all or most of the time, according to the Pew Research Center. The Campaign to End Loneliness goes one step further, finding that people under 30 are the loneliest age group and that women are significantly more likely to be chronically lonely than men. I have often dreaded the end of the workday when I'd find myself faced with the prospect of an evening spent alone. However, judging by recent media coverage, you'd be forgiven for thinking that loneliness is almost exclusively experienced by young men. Whether it's through stories of perpetually online Joe Rogan–devoted incels lashing out in anger over their own inadequacies or average guys who lack the tools needed to deal with their feelings, the message around loneliness is that it's affecting men at alarming rates—and we should all be concerned, especially when social isolation leads to violence and extremism in men. 'The epidemic of loneliness is hitting men hardest,' a Los Angeles Times op-ed from last year posits. 'Is the Cure to Male Loneliness Out on the Pickleball Court?' asks the New York Times. 'Are men okay?' wonders Vox. Earlier this week, the conversation on male loneliness was reinvigorated thanks to a New York Times article on 'mankeeping.' According to the Times, this is 'the work women do to meet the social and emotional needs of the men in their lives, from supporting their partners through daily challenges and inner turmoil to encouraging them to meet up with their friends.' Not only are women alarmed that the men in our lives are friendless, but it appears we feel responsible for helping them feel less alone. In pointing to a real problem, this media coverage glosses over another issue. Women's struggles with loneliness can be just as if not more severe than men's, but female isolation is rarely the topic of think pieces or trend stories. Are women okay? Some of us aren't, but when we're not occupied with 'mankeeping,' it's up to us to mitigate our own social anxiety. 'Women take on an especially high level of pressure and urgency to feel a deep connective tissue in a friendship,' Alyssa Petersel, LMSW, CEO of the therapist-match platform MyWellbeing, tells me in an interview. 'Women tend to view loneliness as a personal failure, but men, broadly speaking, are more likely to externalize the feeling (what's wrong with other people?) or not recognize it at all.' And while, according to Petersel, men may feel like 'their cup is full' after bonding with friends over concrete activities like watching sports, for women it's all about quality versus quantity. Even with a high weekly volume of lunch dates or Pilates meetups, we don't feel truly satisfied until our standard for a friendship's depth is met. 'Female loneliness is often existential: I know a lot of people, but who really knows me?' echoes Los Angeles–based clinical psychologist Dr. Lauren Kerwin. That's not to say men can't feel a mismatch between the friendships they have and the friendships they want to have, but the experts I talked to say men are less likely to blame themselves for it. 'There's a persistent cultural script that women should be naturally good at friendship. Lonely men may be socially accepted, even expected, but lonely women often carry shame,' says Kerwin. This pervasive loneliness has deep roots in art and culture. Reclusive and brilliant writers like Emily Dickinson or Emily Brontë described their own isolation at a time when women often couldn't work outside the home, gain a university education, or own property. Instead of going out to a tavern with a friend (unheard of) or bonding with coworkers, most of us could be found taking care of (ahem, 'mankeeping'?) our husbands by tending to their meals, trousers, and mood swings. In the process, we learned how to hide behind the mask of a seemingly perfect life—the magna cum laude college honors, say, or the beautiful photos on social media—which is one reason female loneliness hasn't seemed like an epidemic. The media, our partners and families, and the broader culture rarely see cause for concern or theorize about how to enhance our lackluster social lives. And so we are left to forge ahead on our own. Despite my efforts, I have struggled to tolerate superficial initial connections that (I assume) would slowly evolve into the close-knit, know-everything-about-your-life bonds I've seen and envied on TV. I don't want to talk about the merits of a new facial salon downtown or what's worth getting at the Alo Yoga sale, and so I don't even try. Still, I'm not okay with being a recluse. New York's beauty lies in the fact that you can find everyone here, and it stings not to have people tuned to my frequency. I have found a solution to all this, however, and it's fittingly retro. Bella and I became pen pals in 2020, at the age of 17, as part of Rachel Syme's Penpalooza letter-writing program. At its peak, the exchange had 10,000 members from over 75 different countries. Some pairings lasted for only a letter or two and others, like ours, are still ongoing. While I long for in-person friendships, as of right now, this long-distance platonic confidante knows my heart better than any of my lackluster college connections. Bella is a month older than me and also a journalist. In our early letters, when she was living in Florida, I used my best stationery to tell her about college applications, nature walks, and Covid-era existential crises. She wrote to me about the lake outside her window and the independent magazine she helmed. Bella lives in Spain now. We've only met once IRL. We can't share the joys of post-work drinks, trips to bookstores, or getaways to the beach on the Q train. At first, because of the distance, I didn't want to burden her in darker moments, like that post-fight meltdown on the bathroom floor. Week after week though, I felt giddy when running to my mailbox. Emily Dickinson lived a solitary life. Letter writing was also great joy for her—maybe because it let her express things she could never say out loud. 'This is an ode to all the girls we've been together,' Bella wrote in a card after I moved in with my boyfriend, accompanied by roses. The gesture made it feel as if she were in the apartment with us. So, in the tradition of deep and thoughtful long-distance correspondences between women who feel like they were born in the wrong century, I have come to realize true friendship doesn't require proximity. While the digital realm can be hazardous for isolated young men who stumble onto the manosphere, for lonely women like me, it's still a lifeline. Meeting Bella taught me that sometimes the best platonic connections live over 3,500 miles away but will still celebrate your wins, offer clarifying pushback when you're being stupid, and meet every new version of you with open arms. So while the media may never obsess over the fate of lonely letter-writing girls like me, thanks to modern technology, old-fashioned modes of correspondence, and a hefty dose of female resilience, there's still hope for us.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
6 surprising signs you're lonely according to experts
Loneliness is a deeply personal experience that can affect anyone, often in ways we don't immediately recognise. While it's easy to associate it with being physically alone, the reality is far more nuanced. Loneliness can be emotional, social, or even existential, manifesting through feelings of disconnection, emptiness, or being misunderstood, even when surrounded by others. As Loneliness Awareness Week (9–15 June) reminds us, this feeling is not a personal failure or weakness; it's a natural part of life that most people experience at some point. According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, in 2022, nearly half (49.63%) of adults in the UK – approximately 26 million people – reported feeling lonely at least occasionally, with some saying they felt lonely often or always. But loneliness doesn't always show up in obvious ways. Yahoo UK spoke to two experts to unpack the lesser-known signs and offer advice on what you can do if you're struggling. Relationship expert and British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy-accredited counsellor, Georgina Sturmer tells Yahoo UK: "When we feel lonely, it can be tempting to fill our diary with as much as possible or surround ourselves with people all the time. But the problem is that when we feel lonely, what we really crave is not the company of lots of others but a real sense of connection." Sturmer says that it is possible to feel lonely in a crowded room, to which Ruth Lowe, the head of loneliness services at the charity Age UK, agrees. She adds that the key to tackling this feeling is forming meaningful relationships. "If you're out with lots of people, but you don't actually feel connected to them or like they care about you, or you don't have any meaningful connection there, then you can feel even lonelier," she explains. Lowe says that loneliness can also result in people declining social invitations. "Somebody declining invites and not engaging in things they used to might think, 'Maybe I'm declining these things because I don't want to go anymore.' But it could be that you are feeling lonely and you are struggling with your confidence," she continues. "Loneliness can bring up a lot of negative thoughts and feelings. People might actually start to feel nervous about going to things and start thinking, 'Does anybody actually want me there?' Because it impacts your self-worth." Lowe says that loneliness can result in you feeling angrier or more emotional than usual. "You might find that things are continuing to go round in your head, and maybe you're overthinking things. You might experience moods that make you behave or act in ways that you don't usually," she explains. "Loneliness isn't a mental health condition, but it is closely linked to our mental health and our mental wellbeing." Loneliness also might inhibit you from taking time off work, or it might drive you to say 'yes' to extra projects, even if you're already feeling stressed. "Work might be full of pressure and deadlines, but it often offers us a certain level of structure and an opportunity to escape from other worries," Sturmer explains. The counsellor says you may also experience "free time anxiety," explaining that in a society that prizes friendship, spending time alone can make you feel like a failure. 2.1 million older people (15%) say they take less care of themselves when they're lonely, according to research by Age UK. "Loneliness can make it feel like there's no point in your existence, that you don't have a purpose. That might mean that you're struggling to make the effort and get the motivation to take care of yourself, to take care of the space that you live in," Lowe shares. This sign of loneliness is cross-generational, as Sturmer states that it can result in anyone feeling like they are "not good enough," leading to low self-esteem. "When we think about self-care – eating well, exercising, getting out in the fresh air – it's important to recognise that we are only able to look after ourselves if we feel that we deserve to do so," she says. "And then it becomes harder to prioritise ourselves and to do the things that we need to do in order to feel healthy and well." According to Sturmer, when you're in a state of loneliness, it's natural to crave connection. While people will often seek comfort online, she warns against this. "At a very surface level, it might feel that scrolling on social media delivers us a sense of connection, so we can find ourselves scrolling mindlessly through our newsfeed. However, that social media feed might actually amplify our loneliness," she says. Some people turn to drugs and alcohol to help them ignore their feelings of loneliness. Lowe explains: "Loneliness can make you feel like you've got very little self-worth, and people might try and find solace in using drugs or alcohol to try and make themselves feel better, to try and numb how they're feeling." Lowe recommends speaking to someone about your feelings, whether it be a family member, friend or a GP. "We know that talking about loneliness can be difficult. It can take a lot of courage, but the most powerful thing you can do for yourself is speak to someone and say the words out loud," she says. "1.1 million older people feel embarrassed to talk about their feelings of loneliness, and they might not feel as comfortable as younger people do to talk about their emotions and their mental health. Older people can contact Age UK for support, and there are other organisations out there for different groups of people." Lowe says it's important to take small steps to improve your situation. She advises against joining multiple groups and clubs at once, as that could be overwhelming. "Try and take small steps. It could just be something like, 'I'm going to try and reach out to a friend that I haven't spoken to for a little while. I'm going to send them a message or give them a call.' Don't put too much pressure on yourself to do too much too soon, especially if you are feeling quite down about yourself." Volunteering is a great way to expand your social circle and can help when you're experiencing any negative feelings. "Meet new people, give yourself a sense of purpose, and give yourself some routine. Having people relying on you and going to do something can really help," Lowe says. Read more about loneliness: Loneliness increases as we age, study suggests (PA Media, 3-min read) 5 ways loneliness can negatively affect your health (PA Media, 4-min read) The loneliness myth: what our shared stories of feeling alone reveal about why you can't 'fix' this very human experience (The Conversation, 15-min read)
The National
03-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Karen Adam: How we treat the elderly tells us much about our society
I was welcomed with open arms and heard shared stories of lives spent raising families, working locally, and caring for others. Some of them had gone to school in the very places they now live in, worked in the fishing and farming industries, supported the NHS and education sector, or were familiar faces in local community shops before retiring. Many of them had spent their entire lives contributing to their communities. And now, in their twilight years, they ask for just one thing, and that is to stay in the homes and communities they know, with support nearby and companionship around them. And yet, they're facing the threat of closure, and told, in some cases, by nothing more than a flyer or a vague noticeboard announcement about a 'presentation'. People with hearing impairments. People with cognitive decline. People who didn't fully understand what the 'presentation' was about until they arrived and were told, quite bluntly, that their homes may be closed, and they could be moved elsewhere, perhaps 20 miles away, alone. It's heartbreaking. And it's enraging. READ MORE: What to expect from The National as we cover Hamilton by-election this week This, though, highlights something bigger. About how we, as a society, measure our worth. About what kind of Scotland, we are building. Because, for all the policy debates and budget spreadsheets, the real test of a government or a country is how it treats its most vulnerable. And that of course includes our elderly. I have spoken many times about how we don't wait until independence, how we can create what we want now and let our current values and policy shape our independent nation. And this should be a priority, for our wellbeing economy. In those complexes, what I saw wasn't just bricks and mortar. It was a community. It was resilience. It was, dare I say it, exactly the kind of future many of us hope for. One of the workers I spoke to said it reminded her of The Golden Girls, these strong, funny women living together, supporting one another, full of spirit and kindness. But behind the humour is something deeply serious, and that's that these women, and men too, were not just living there, they were thriving. That kind of support, peer support, community care, shared spaces, warm chats in communal lounges, cannot be replicated by handing someone a grant and sending them to live alone in a private flat miles away. And yet, that is the direction some local authority decisions are taking us. We are told closures are about saving money. But that's a false economy. Because we know that loneliness and isolation among older people have a direct impact on health, leading to more GP appointments and higher hospital admissions. According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, loneliness increases the risk of dementia by 40%, and the impact of chronic loneliness is comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. So I have to ask, what are we saving, really, if we end up paying so much more in health and crisis support down the line? One crucial point that an activist who is fighting to keep these complexes open made is that these decisions made in budgetary isolation may save a housing budget some cash, but what about the impact on other areas to pick up costs? Surely this should have a holistic spending approach. Instead of shutting the doors on sheltered housing, we should be flinging them open. Investing in them. Modernising them. Replicating them across Scotland as part of our vision for a wellbeing economy. An economy that values not just profit, but people's quality of life, health, happiness, and community connection. Scotland has an ageing population. It's a fact. And it's one we need to plan for not with fear, but with compassion and vision. What if we saw assisted living not as a burden, but as a brilliant idea for the future of care? What if we offered that model, not just to the elderly, but to others too? What if intergenerational living spaces, communal kitchens, shared gardens and social hubs were part of how we solved housing issues, isolation, and mental health decline all in one go? READ MORE: Scottish Labour by-election candidate flounders after dodging question 11 times The Scottish Government has been leading in embedding well-being into policy thinking. And we've made progress. But stories like the ones I've heard this week remind me how fragile that progress is when local council decisions, or Westminster-imposed funding constraints, undermine the values we hold dear. We can't build a wellbeing economy on crumbling foundations. We must fight to protect and enhance the community infrastructure that delivers that wellbeing in real terms. Sheltered housing is one part of that. Community centres, libraries, bus routes, local surgeries, and social care are all other. They're not extras, they're the glue that holds people together, especially in later life. And this isn't just about 'doing the right thing' for older people, it's also about asking ourselves what kind of future we want. Because all of us are growing older, and most of us, I suspect, would rather spend our later years in a warm, welcoming, communal space with friends than in isolated private accommodation miles from everything we've ever known. One of the women I met said to me: 'We've looked after others our whole lives. Now we just want to be allowed to look after each other.' That stayed with me. Because it speaks to something we sometimes forget, that people are not passive recipients of care. They are active citizens with stories, strength, and something to give. A truly caring society doesn't shut that down. It nurtures it. It invests in it. It sees community living not as a relic of the past, but as a blueprint for the future. Let's not abandon the spaces where people find joy and dignity. Let's build more of them. Let's value what really matters.
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Will the run club replace the pub? Why choose when both can help fight a deeper issue?
Run clubs vs pubs: the title of this article is likely to spark some debate. As a new wave of social fitness clubs and sober raves sweeps the nation, and more nightlife venues shut their doors for good, public opinion seems to be swaying in favour of a healthier approach to socialising. But despite this boom in health-conscious events, and the fact I recently ditched drinking and ultimately feel better for it, I still feel the pub remains a British institution. As a fitness writer, I also love the gym, CrossFit and the various fitness communities I'm part of – that includes a couple of run clubs. In the process of weighing up whether one social setting might soon replace the other and why, I stumbled across a bigger issue – one that the founders of pubs and run clubs were seeking to combat in their own ways: the issue of loneliness. We live in a world that actively discourages us from interacting with others. High streets are declining in favour of online shopping and when we do venture to a store, we're met with self-checkouts. Working from home is the proverbial 'new normal', and you can use public transport with zipped lips and a tap of your card. Not that leaving the house is essential anymore. Whether you want a film or a fling, there's an app for everything, and streaming services invariably ram takeaway ads down your throat. Loneliness is worryingly common, with the Office for National Statistics reporting that one in four adults experience feelings of loneliness at least 'some of the time', and seven per cent feel lonely 'often or always'. The pandemic has surely played its part in how isolated we've become as a nation, but given the UK appointed a minister for loneliness back in 2018, I'm not sure we can place the fault solely at Covid's door. In my eyes, run clubs and pubs can provide part of the antidote by encouraging us to leave the house, see other people and develop a sense of belonging. On that basis, can we really say that one is better than the other or that one might replace the other entirely? How lonely is the UK? According to data from the newly released Global Flourishing Study, Britain ranks among the poorest countries for 'human flourishing'. The survey, which looked at the populations of 22 countries on six continents, rated the UK 20th based on levels of happiness, health and financial security. Of course, relationships with others and feelings of social isolation were an important factor in determining this score. 'I tend to liken loneliness to being hungry or thirsty,' says Professor Andrea Wigfield, a leading researcher and the co-director of the Campaign to End Loneliness. 'Social interaction is an essential thing, and as a human being you need people around you.' Transient (or temporary) loneliness is unpleasant, but it's quickly fixed by reaching out to people, Wigfield says. The deeper issue lies in chronic loneliness, where you're 'lonely often and it's persistent'. Long-term loneliness has been linked to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, as well as other conditions including cardiovascular disease and dementia. 'Through these various mechanisms, there's a higher risk of mortality [or death] – you'll have seen the research comparing it to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day,' Wigfield tells me. Older people and young adults are most likely to suffer chronic loneliness, data suggests. In recent years, the 16-29 bracket has consistently reported higher levels of loneliness than other age groups. I'm 28 years old, placing me at the upper end of this demographic, and it's easy to see why it might be so prevalent. Until the age of 21, I lived with people – first family, then housemates. Throughout this time, school, university and various sports clubs served me a smorgasbord of would-be friends. Then, at 22, my partner and I moved from Dorset to Brighton. We knew no one and, while we were lucky to have each other, you can't form a social circle by joining just two dots. Without structures in place to introduce us to potential friends, we didn't know where to find them. 'Every one of us at some point in our life is going to feel lonely because loneliness is triggered by life transition points,' Wigfield says. 'That could be moving school, moving home, bereavement, retirement, becoming a carer or ceasing to become a carer. All these key moments in your life lead to a change in your social connections, and can lead to loneliness.' During this period of my life, social media seemed to suggest people my age were permanently surrounded by a huge network of friends. Having access to others' highlight reels in this way can be overwhelming and increase feelings of loneliness, explains Stephen Buckley, head of information at mental health charity Mind. But he encourages people to remember that 'things aren't always what they seem from the outside'. 'We often think that friends are just going to be there, but that's not always the case,' Wigfield adds. 'I think that's where a lot of young people struggle at the moment; they see others on social media and they expect to have friends.' The solution, as prescribed by Wigfield, is to take things back to basics: 'Reach out and connect with other people.' The runner's 'hi' I recently spent a day working from home alone. By lunchtime I felt flat; by 6pm transient loneliness had started to set in, making my head a less than pleasant place to be. At this point, I shut my laptop and started readying myself for the run club at my gym. Within seconds of walking through the gym door, my silent streak was broken. Several familiar faces gave a wave and a cheery 'hullo', while another friend gave me a hug and asked how I'd been. I felt immediately and significantly better, and this trend continued throughout the hour-long session. Despite being in the freezing cold with legs that turned to lead after a few kilometres, the camaraderie kept me going. Members cheered each other on, and there was a constant thrum of excited chatter in the brief intermissions between lung-busting efforts. By the end I was socially sated, and enjoying the bonus perk of having a wave of feel-good endorphins whizzing around my body. Buckley says this is symptomatic of a run club member. Exercise can boost mood and reduce feelings of stress and anger, alongside its well-documented physical benefits, he tells me. It also provides opportunities to meet new people, helps manage mental health problems and forces you into the great outdoors. 'The colours, sounds and smells can provide a welcome distraction, allowing us to switch off from everyday pressures,' he says. I've seen people roll their eyes at the rise of run clubs in recent years, and many will have scrolled past this feature with a groan. But I can't help but feel their disparagement is misplaced. If a group delivers the physical perks of exercise and the mental health benefits of a social setting, surely it's a positive thing? This is particularly true if younger generations are turning their back on nights out. In the eyes of experts like Wigfield, interaction is a human need, so social alternatives are a must. Is the pub on its way out? Now I realise that, as a fitness writer, I'm inclined to enjoy gyms and run clubs more than the average person – exercise is a hobby for me rather than an obligation. And while I'll always sing the praises of movement for mental, physical and emotional health, Wigfield makes it clear that battling loneliness isn't a purely physical pursuit. 'The way I like to think about [fighting] loneliness is by talking about creating meaningful relationships,' she tells me. 'Meaningful relationships with other people, meaningful relationships with places and spaces around you, and meaningful relationships with yourself. Those meaningful relationships are essential for human beings. Obviously we're all different and some people will need more of that human connection than others, but we all need some.' For this reason, she prescribes any activity that brings people together, be that running, music, singing, eating or otherwise. The key is having a central point of connection. This is also why I'm not keen to celebrate one form of social enrichment over any other. Yes, I love to exercise, but I believe it should be accessible and fun, not exclusive or connected to some moral high ground. Playing padel with friends or joining a running club doesn't make you a better person than someone who prefers the pub – both have their merits for mental health. Healthy social events and activities may be on the rise, and I approve of that, but we still need other social spaces like pubs and clubs. Despite the fact that I don't drink, I headed to the pub with friends at the weekend after my chat with Wigfield. I was there with people I knew, but I also found myself having chats with people at the bar, around the TV screen showing the football and even briefly at the urinals. A chef warned there would be a delay on food, holding up a badly bandaged hand in explanation, and the barman laughed at my partner for several minutes when she asked for a latte. By the time I left, my cheeks housed deep divots from laughing and I had a raft of new stories in my back pocket – any thoughts of loneliness were off the radar. Combatting loneliness Wigfield explains that chronic loneliness can change our perception of others, making it harder to socialise. 'If you've been lonely for a long time and someone smiles or says hello to you in the street, you're more likely to see that in a negative way. That changes your behaviour, so when you walk past people you might look away rather than looking at them. There tends to be a spiral with chronic loneliness and it's harder to get out of.' After spending plenty of time trying to figure things out following my move to Brighton, I was fortunate to meet some amazing people through work, sports clubs and the gym. But these relationships didn't just happen, as social media suggested they might – I had to push outside my comfort zone to find them, then work to maintain them. Run clubs provide a container of sorts for friendships to germinate, in the same way your local bar or pub might. They streamline the socialising process and set us up for success, providing a powerful potential tonic to chronic loneliness. Both run clubs and pubs provide a sense of belonging to a place, and connection to the people there, Wigfield says. By talking to others, you're also more likely to receive positive messages and build a better sense of connection to yourself. Running naturally offers the bonus benefits of exercise, both physically and hormonally, but for combatting loneliness she struggles to pick a winner. 'The mechanisms are different, but I don't see one as more beneficial than the other; it just depends on the individual and what you like to connect to,' concludes Wigfield. It's also important to recognise that, if you're feeling lonely, there are other options on the table. 'The most important thing is to find a type of activity you love and can stick with,' concludes Buckley. 'A run club might be best for you if you like running socially with others, but it's okay if you try it and it's not the right fit. Don't feel that you have to stick with something that's not working for you – you're much more likely to keep doing it if it's fun.' In my mission to discern whether the pub might soon be replaced by groups of social runners, I learned a few important things – Social interaction is a must, and it's important to find a form that works for you. Social media can't always (or arguably, often) be trusted to give us a realistic image of what our social circle should look like. We can't just expect friendships to appear – it's likely you'll have to put yourself out there to find them, and work hard to maintain these relationships. Tips from mental health charity Mind 1. Be patient and avoid comparisons Try to be gentle and patient with yourself. Take things at your own pace and try not to compare yourself to other people. 2. Make new connections This could be online or in person. Some people join groups that focus on a hobby they enjoy, or meet up to do specific activities. These may provide a space to meet new people and find support. 3. Open up to people you know Try and open up to people you know. Many of us have experienced loneliness, but it can be a scary thought to tell other people about it. It might be helpful to think about what you want to say in advance. You may find that they've experienced similar feelings before. 4. Join an online mental health community A prime example of this is Mind's Side by Side. It's a safe space where people with experience of a mental health problem can share their story, connect and learn from others, and give support in return. 5. Try talking therapies. Talking therapies can help you explore what feeling lonely means to you. Your therapist can help you develop different ways of managing your feelings Mind has several helplines available for advice and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem:
