How to Overcome Loneliness in a Locked Down World
Summary
Before COVID-19, America had a chronic loneliness problem, but the fight to limit the disease's spread is set to drastically increase the risk of loneliness. The pandemic has changed lives forever. We've all realized that we could eschew many things that used to be a big part of our lives before, but after being locked down in our homes, we can live without. We have become stronger and more resilient and have navigated through these unprecedented times one day at a time. In our journey, we've learned new things about ourselves, one of which is that we can live alone. Living alone is a feat in itself, which means that you are capable and independent. However, most of us tend to confuse that with loneliness. Just because you are alone does not constitute that you are lonely.On an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, a podcast hosted by Joe Rogan himself and guest Johann Hari, they talk about the lack of community in America which is leading up to be the biggest cause of the loneliness epidemic. Rogan talks about our psychological needs, in conjunction with physical needs, deeming them both equally important. One of those psychological needs is bonding with other humans in a social setting. He mentions the current state of America, where fewer and fewer people are walking on paths that ensures that they'll be alone in the years to come. Some by choice, a lot of us by force. Hari then replies by talking about how loneliness is an inherent signal to our body that something is wrong, releasing cortisol as a response to stress. So not even our bodies are used to being lonely. He then mentions how humans require a sense of belonging. He quotes Bosnian writer Aleksander Hemon who wrote, "Home is where somebody notices when you are no longer there." What he means is that we all need a home and a safe space that we go back to at the end of each day to recover parts of ourselves that the world unjustly keeps for itself. We go back to our families, friends, and loved ones for rejoicing in our successes and to nurse our wounds.
Introduction
Socializing with other human beings is more pertinent than ever now. To avoid the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, people have been told or encouraged to remain away from each other for about two years. While that may be a factor, Steven Van Cohen, co-founder of LessLonely, points out that loneliness is more than just a lack of social interaction. We have the ability to be surrounded by a large number of individuals. We have the ability to communicate with people at all hours of the day and night. But that doesn't rule out the possibility of loneliness, he says. It's instead about how we interact with others. The distinction is in the connection and interaction. If we don't make time to connect, we often don't think about it or allocate it to an inconsequential issue on a long to-do list. And it's just not being done.
To help you recover from this epidemic, we have carefully curated steps that you can take which will help you dive back into the social pipeline. The steps focus on interacting with other people and working on yourself to get the most out of each of those interactions. 10 days of introspection is what you need to help you get back on the saddle and stop this cycle of solitude. Coupled with journaling prompts, it will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the issue at hand and take inventory of your feelings, emotions, and experiences.