Tips for young people
Loneliness
At some point in our lives, we will all experience loneliness, which can be challenging to deal with. However, there are things you can do and people you may contact to feel better.
What is loneliness?
For a variety of reasons, including painful life transitions like moving to a new place, the end of relationships or friendships, or a bereavement, we can all experience occasional feelings of loneliness. Even when we are surrounded by a large number of people or friends, it is possible to occasionally feel lonely.
Finding people that understand us or who connect to our circumstances might be difficult. When we are being bullied or feel cut off from the "ideal life" we see on social media, it can make us feel incredibly alone. Even if we have a large following, it can seem as though everyone else is gathered with friends and family and enjoying themselves; this can make things feel much better.
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When might you feel lonely?
Loneliness may be challenging to deal with and can begin to negatively impact our mental health by leaving us feeling down or down on ourselves. We may find it challenging to engage with our loved ones as we normally do if we are already experiencing mental health issues. When we didn't previously feel this way, this can cause us to feel alone and isolated. However, things may be done if you're feeling lonely to make you feel better; life doesn't have to be this way.
You could experience loneliness as well if you join a new school, university, or place of employment and are having trouble making friends.
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you experience a bereavement or loss of someone close to you
a relationship or friendship changes -
you go through something that your peers haven’t or are unable to relate to
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you feel very different from your peers or people around you
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you aren’t able to do the things you see others doing
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you are struggling with your sexuality or gender identity
Tips from our team
Focus on self-love. The more time you spend doing activities you enjoy and being kind to yourself, the more confident you will feel, even when spending time alone might not seem like much fun. Having some alone time is acceptable.
Even if you don't currently have any close friends or family members with whom you can communicate, it is crucial to have ways to express yourself. Maintaining a journal can help you keep track of your emotions, and reading it back might help you identify persistent issues in your life that may require assistance. Some people find that sketching, painting, music, fashion, or sport are good ways to express oneself.
You don’t have to be good at something to give it a go and enjoy it. A regular hobby with other people can help you build new friendships and have fun.
There will be other people out there who share your passion for whatever it is that you really love. Find methods to connect with the things you love, whether that be an online fan forum or a local writers' club. You might be surprised by the opportunities that result from doing so.
More information & support
Depression
Anxiety
Suicidal thoughts
Self harm
You are not alone...
We can assist you whether you want to learn more about how you're feeling and discover strategies for feeling better or if you want to support someone who is having a hard time.
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