6 Tips on How to Overcome the Effects of Social Isolation
Anyone can experience social isolation, even if they have several meaningful relationships. If you feel that you’re one of these people, then you’re not alone.
Even before COVID-19, the number of Americans reportedly feeling alone and isolated was at an all-time high, and the numbers went through the roof when the pandemic came.
Luckily for you, in this article, we will discuss some tips on overcoming your feelings of social isolation.
From simple things like learning how to reach out for help to more complicated stuff like creating a support network, this article will help you overcome the effects of social isolation as fast as possible.
In This Article
1. Practice Reaching Out
When you feel lonely, you tend to withdraw from your friends and family and isolate yourself from the world.
However, this is a very harmful thing to do to yourself and can be categorized as self-harm.
Social isolation, if neglected, can lead to other mental health issues like depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, etc.
The best self-care tip that you can follow is to try to reach out to someone who can help you.
You can start by reaching out to your friends and family and letting them understand what you’re feeling and going through.
2. Create a Support Network
Once you successfully reach out to your loved ones, you can then try to establish a support network with them.
A support network is a group of people you can talk to when feeling lonely and isolated.
It should be a group of people you can talk to freely about your emotions without discrimination.
You can also find support groups online that are feeling the same way as you.
here are a lot of platforms that you can go to, like Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, etc.
You may look at them as strangers, but it’s highly recommended as it can be a form of group therapy for you.
You can show your emotions and thoughts without judgment, and you’ll find inspirational stories that you can relate to personally.
3. Talk to a Professional
A support group isn’t enough. You must also talk to a professional to get it out of your system fast. There are many types of professionals you can go to, and they specialize in specific aspects of your problem.
For example, if you want to identify the root of your feelings and how to deal with them, you can talk to a life coach or a therapist. If your feelings of isolation are due to family problems, you can talk to a counselor.
Sure, these services might be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Nowadays, there are already insurance plans that are suited for mental health problems and the services that you need to tackle them. Not only that, but it’s common for employers nowadays to care about the mental health of their employees through the use of insurance plans.
If you’re your own boss, however, make sure to get an insurance plan for yourself. Fortunately, there are a lot of health insurance options for self employed individuals, letting you shop around for a policy that fits you.
4. Change Your Environment
One common theme that people usually have when it comes to isolation is that they choose to be alone. Of course, there are many reasons why people isolate themselves, but most of the time, they have the power to change it. That said, if you feel isolated, then you might want to change your environment gradually.
For example, you can try to meet other people by joining a hobby group, transitioning from remote work to office work, etc. You could even go for online groups if you’re uncomfortable joining in-person groups.
5. Reintroduce Your Hobbies
Speaking of hobbies, if you’re feeling isolated, there’s a good chance that you might be neglecting your hobbies and interests. It might be hard for you to rekindle your passion, but by returning to your hobbies, you can fend off the adverse effects of your isolation.
Not only that, but if you rekindle your passion, you can join activity groups or organizations that hold events that relate to your hobbies. This is a good way of motivating you to focus more of your time on your passion rather than mulling over your feelings of isolation.
6. Exercise Regularly
When it comes to feelings of isolation, people tend to have poor mental health, which could also lead to poor physical health.
That said, why not improve both through exercising?
Moving physically does wonders for the mind because it promotes serotonin production, which improves our moods significantly.
You can start by jogging every morning or moving around the house as you clean it.
There are a lot of physical activities you could do. If you’re comfortable, you can even go to the gym to meet others.
You can join classes for physical fitness and even have gym friends who could help you be more efficient in your workout.
Final Words
Sometimes, you might feel isolated because you fear making new connections or reconnecting to your old ones.
You might be worried that you’ll be rejected and outcasted. Isolation is a brutal cycle, but thankfully, there are many things you can do to get rid of those feelings.
By following the tips above, you might eliminate your feelings of isolation and make more meaningful connections in the future.