6) Ensuring Best Writing Practices (OUTDATED)

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Feeling Less Lonely While Alone

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a daunting process to say the least for everyone around the globe. One of the most challenging adjustments for most have been dealing with quarantine mandates and being unable to gather and socialize as we once could. Coping with feelings of loneliness during this pandemic is completely valid during these adjustments. Popular YouTuber and best selling author Noah Elkrief once mentioned, "If being alone creates the feeling of loneliness, then you would feel forced to feel lonely in every single moment you are alone". Is that true? In some moments alone you are enjoying yourself whether you're drawing, listening to music, eating your favorite food or watching your favorite TV show. In some moments, you do not feel lonely when you are alone. That means being alone can't cause loneliness, it has to be something else. That "something else" is your thoughts. When distracted from your thoughts you feel fine, until a thought pops up and tell you if you had friends, a romantic partner etc. you wouldn't be lonely. This shows that loneliness is not caused by being alone, but by our thoughts.

Check out this video here, including more insight from Noah Elkrief! Here, Noah provides guidance on how to deal with loneliness and how to never feel lonely again; This will serve helpful especially during the pandemic 💙

@SoufullyAButterfly

REDUCING LONELINESS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. Loneliness is also described as social pain—a psychological mechanism which motivates individuals to seek social connections.

It is a state of mind that can lead to depression which is why we have to try as much as possible to reduce it.

There are so many people we are surrounded by that are going through a state of loneliness which is why we have to try as much as possible to help the people around us….. empathy, compassion and understanding are some important things we have to demonstrate.

Statistically the rate of loneliness has been increased to the pandemic. https://www.ons.gov.uk,peoplepopulationandcommunity,wellbeing,bulletins,coronavirusandlonelinessgreatbritain,3aprilto3may2020

What can you do if you feel lonely during the pandemic?

Explore ways to spend time together : Many of us have withdrawn ourselves from our loved ones and family due to the pandemic whilst living in isolation but rather this is the perfect time to connect and bond with yourselves by doing the things you love and communicating with each other to reduce the anxiety that might come as a result of loneliness. You can also try to reach out to your friends and join a group chat to talk about anything that makes you happy.

Try to share your feelings – but do not compare : Being able to share your feelings and thoughts with others can help reduce loneliness and hearing a familiar voice, because you have to remember you're not alone. Sometimes social media tends not to help an individual at a particular situation depending on the content he/she views so try not to compare yourself to what you see out there.

Do more things you enjoy : We all have our various preferences, try to participate in what you love doing that makes you feel relaxed and reduces thinking. You can try journaling ,listening to podcasts, taking a walk or cycling, painting, drawing, binging your favourite shows, doing some chores , dancing and so many other things. But do what you love.

By learning something new and staying busy : This is a good time to do what you have always wanted to do but couldn't do, maybe due to time or stress. It may be learning a new language, cooking , learning a musical instrument , DIY's and so much more. Just do what you love and find comfort .

Volunteer to help others : We all have what we're passionate about…someone out there needs your help. You can use your skill or knowledge to help people . Try to get involved in as many activities as possible that you know can help people and vice versa but try not to overwork yourself.

Join an online community : Always remember you're not alone. If you're struggling with loneliness or any mental health issues you can join communities that are centered in helping people overcome situations that you feel unable to talk about

Communities like https://www.7cups.com,home,?cr=header

are free anonymous chat platforms that help you connect with like minded people and experts in the field of mental health who are ready to support and guide you through your journey

References

https://en.m.wikipedia.org,wiki,Loneliness

https://www.ons.gov.uk,peoplepopulationandcommunity,wellbeing,bulletins,coronavirusandlonelinessgreatbritain,3aprilto3may2020

https://www.nhs.uk,every-mind-matters,coronavirus,coping-with-loneliness-during-coronavirus,

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID 19 Pandemic

The Covid 19 Pandemic has been a very stressful and emotional time for people all over the world. During the height of the pandemic in the summer of 2020 I found coping extremely difficult so I began to participate in online classes and support groups via Zoom. While I found it frustrating to always be on camera and had a difficult time adjusting to technology early on, the experience proved to be extremely rewarding. I have not only learned new skills by attending workshops covering topics such as leadership, teamwork, and advocacy, I have also been able to build my network globally. This has opened up many opportunities to collaborate and work on projects which will open any doors in my career.

You’re not alone– 7cups is there for you

Covid has us locked in our houses. Many are away from their family and friends. How many of us miss those unforeseen and accidental encounters in cafes and parks. Lockdown accompanied by isolation of Covid infected or those suspected of infection has put a heavy toll on people's mental health, leading to the feeling of loneliness. Loneliness is a risk factor for many mental disorders like depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, chronic stress, insomnia or even late-life dementia (Wilson et al., 2007). It is in such times that a conversation with someone can become life saviour.

However, we can feel lucky about the fact that we live in a digital age and albeit it doesn't come close to face-to-face interaction, but it can provide some solace to agitated and lonely people by connecting them to their family or others like them.

In this regard I’d like to highlight the features of 7 cups and the commendable work this platform has been doing for those who feel lonely or other issues stemming from this feeling. 7cups provide facility of one-on-one interaction with a trained listener, forums for a wide array of topics and issues, and group chats in case one needs community support. It also has the facility to connect one to an expert. There is a reason why it’s been called a “caring revolution”.

We are not alone in this. We need to remember that. We need to be there for one another.

References: {{Wilson, R. S., Krueger, K. R., Arnold, S. E., Schneider, J. A., Kelly, J. F., Barnes, L. L., . . .Bennett, D. A. (2007). Loneliness and risk of Alzheimer disease. Archives of General Psychiatry, 64(2), 234–240.}}

{{https://www.voicesofyouth.org/blog/7-cups-caring-revolution}}

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Introduction

Have you been feeling lonely since the start of the coronavirus pandemic? You’re certainly not alone if you answered “yes.”

According to the a charity based in the United Kingdom, Campaign to End Loneliness, the current COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in the amount of people experiencing chronic loneliness. And this isn’t an isolated finding, with the American Psychological Association claiming that during the pandemic there has been a global increase in levels of loneliness.

With an abundance of medical evidence demonstrating that loneliness has serious consequences for our health, it is no surprise that people are searching for ways to combat their own loneliness and support others struggling with the same issue. Keep reading to find out what experts recommend and where you can seek support if you are one of the millions of people struggling with feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Sources:

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-in-your-body-when-youre-lonely/

https://www.insider.com/effects-loneliness-health-2018-6

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159102000739

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Trajectory of Loneliness

During the coronavirus pandemic, a study was conducted by a group of psychologists and published in the American Psychologist. This study aimed to track the trajectory of loneliness, and hypothesized the concern that loneliness would increase during lockdown periods. However, according to the study’s findings:

“Contrary to expectations, there were no significant mean-level changes in loneliness across the three assessments (d = .04, p > .05). In fact, respondents perceived increased support from others over the follow-up period (d = .19, p < .01). Older adults reported less loneliness overall compared to younger age groups but had an increase in loneliness during the acute phase of the outbreak (d = .14, p < .05). Their loneliness, however, leveled off after the issuance of stay-at-home orders.” (Luchetti, M., Lee, J. H., Aschwanden, D., Sesker, A., Strickhouser, J. E., Terracciano, A., & Sutin, A. R. (2020). The trajectory of loneliness in response to COVID-19. American Psychologist, 75(7), 897.)

It was seen through this study that the average scale of loneliness went down over time as they received support from others during lockdown, despite some detrimental impacts on vulnerable individuals. Even with social distancing requirements being implemented, there was a sense of togetherness involved that aided in combating the general feelings of loneliness that most participants experienced.

@SoulfullyAButterfly

My response to the article topic "Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic":

A military wife's perspective: Facing the loneliness of the pandemic

Military life is more than a job. It's a lifestyle. From my perspective, it can be exhilarating and fulfilling but also challenging and isolating. As a military spouse, or a military parent, finding the support, you need to handle the loneliness and stress can be difficult. A popular misconception is that military family members are more resilient to challenges than their civilian counterparts. The fact of the matter is, they aren't. Military spouse depression rates mirrored the national average and spiked even higher during the pandemic. The military spouse may have the capacity to struggle with feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks because they are typically so busy with taking care of the children, managing the household, and keeping a job that time for self-care isn't often part of the schedule.

What can you do to manage these feelings?

Thankfully, many resources are available to help you cope—from others who have been through what you are experiencing to tools that can help plan for any unknowns or unexpected events and online communities such as www.7cups.com. These resources can help you learn how to deal with uncertainty, build a strong support network, and adapt wherever necessary. Keep in mind that you are not alone. You have got this! 😊

Sources:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/smi.3155

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/mothers-day-2021-how-being-a-military-spouse-prepared-me-for-the-pandemic/

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Corona Pandemic affected our lives in most unexpected way and changed our ways of living. In some ways it brought us closer and in other, it created loneliness as well. But we need to look at the bright side of it, we got to spend more time with families due to isolation at home. We got time for ourselves as well.

Although we are learning to deal with this changed way of living, there are established ways to maintain feelings of being connected to others despite having to maintain social distancing. By organizing our activities every single day, we can become more resistant to the onset of feelings of loneliness. Here are few –

1.) Stay connected to your family and friends through online methods. Have virtual get together, play games, have a good talk.

2.) We always think if I have some free time, I will do this and that. Here is your chance, invest time on your hobbies which was in your bucket list since many years.

3.) Have a routine. Wake up on time, exercise, eat healthy, try to maintain balance between work and personal time, sleep properly etc.

4.) Pursue outdoor activities while following the guidance of social distancing.

5.) Keep checking on the physical, mental and emotional well beings of our loved-ones.

6.) Pay attention to psychiatric symptoms. Its very easy to have some mental issues so keep an eye on it and when required seek medical help. Don’t ignore it.

7.) Try to work on your creative side whether its learning to cook or decorating your house. In other words, find something to keep you busy and happy.

It’s a chance to be with yourself. Utilize this time.

If you still feeling lonely and need help. Visit 7Cups for free anonymous emotional support and counselling from trained mental health professionals.

Acceptance and Coming to terms with loneliness during COVID-19

Acceptance

Acceptance - When we hear this word, we might be imagining a kind-hearted person opening their arms and telling us that they welcome and accept us. While this might be the definition of the word in the dictionary, this is not what we'll be trying to understand today. So to understand acceptance in terms of psychology a hot better, let's use an example:

Think of an unhappy situation like the common invasive species of garden weed. Imagine it growing in your garden. We hate the sight of it and purposefully avoid looking in its direction. Before we know it, we also stop admiring the beautiful flowers growing in our garden. And soon the flowers that used to give us so much joy start to wither away. Does this sound familiar? For many of us, we tend to avoid unhappy situations or feelings. While this may work sometimes, there’re just some things that we cannot avoid or change. Trying to avoid these things makes it worse. So let's go back to the garden situation. What do we think would've happened if we had just accepted this garden weed instead? Well, the garden pest would still be there but our relationship with it has changed. Fundamentally, this is what acceptance is. Acceptance isn't about changing the external environment because let's face it, life is unpredictable. Avoiding every uncomfortable garden pest is not possible. There will always be unavoidable things to deal with. Therefore, acceptance is a way to change the way we think and form a relationship with negative things in our life.

Loneliness

We all are social creatures. We can’t live our life without other people. We all have some situations of being alone in our lifetime. So at this time, we may feel depressed and hopeless. Also, angry. Most of the time, we may be feeling laziness and loneliness. Also, it may affect our productivity and energy.

During the phase of loneliness, studies have found people developing a feeling called "Sehnsucht" a German noun translated as "longing", "desire", "yearning", or "craving". Sehnsucht is the expression of a very strong and deep feeling of yearning or longing often accompanied by the dream of what could/would be or the wish to escape a situation or even nostalgia. Trying to translate the word literally and with its original meaning it would be close to yearning-ailment or the suffering of yearning/longing: it describes the feeling of yearning or missing someone or something to the point that it makes you unwell or sad. The meaning of ‘Sehnsucht’ is subjective to every person and depends on their circumstances and their values.

"Human beings are made for connection, Loneliness isn’t something to be ashamed of or brushed aside because it seems silly. It increases the risk of premature mortality among all ages, and one recent study even indicated that social isolation and loneliness kill more people than obesity," ~ Dr Caroline Leaf, a cognitive neuroscientist, mental health expert, and author of the upcoming book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess.

So in this time, we may find ourselves making distractions like:

- Playing games

- Timelessly scrolling down on social media accounts

- Sleeping in the daytime

- Watching TV or films over and over again

Like any other person, We may have Googled:

How to avoid loneliness? And Google most of the time doesn't disappoint unlike most of the toxic people in our lives do.

"People think being alone makes you lonely, but I don't think that's true. Being surrounded by the wrong people is the loneliest thing in the world." ~ Kim Culbertson

This is what Google tells us most of the time:

• Spend time with yourself.
• Pick one hobby.
• Start something new and big in your life.
• Meet new people.
• Get a pet.
• Avoid staying alone.
• Don’t depend on friends and family.
• Avoid drugs, alcohol or anything addictive.

But everything written above at one point doesn't work for us most of the time, because when we are lonely, we are depressed, and when we're depressed our mind is not motivated enough to start anything new in our life. But then one point here that we could learn from Google is: "Don't Depend on your friends and family." Because only we are responsible for our happiness in our lives and it isn't good to give this control to anyone else in life.

To get to terms with our loneliness the first step is to identify the reason behind our loneliness. Why am I lonely? Is it a person, a thing or a place which is responsible for my loneliness?

If it is possible to fill that void in my life, then what things I could do to fill it?

In the second step, we may want to give time to ourselves, but most of the time our patience may give up and we may want some instant solution to cope with this loneliness. But we need to remember, that this is not a glass of water, which can be filled easily. This is our life. Our mind is the most complicated thing in the world and we need to learn how to tackle it. But most importantly it requires not giving up on ourselves.

Loneliness is designed to help us discover who we are,

And to stop looking outside ourselves for worth.

Sometimes, we just need a break. In a beautiful place. Alone.

To figure everything out.

For those who have motivation, the meaningful thing we could do to manage loneliness is to invest time in our growth through:

• Subscribing for an online course and doing a bit of work each day. The 7 Cups Academy is a tuition-free institution that trains its members, listeners, and researchers to develop skills and better care for our community. These are professional skills that are of great use even outside 7 Cups. Upon successful completion of the course, you receive a certificate and a badge. Additionally, all 7 Cups academy program graduates are eligible to request a letter of recommendation from 7 Cups. 7 cups also provide LinkedIn skill verifications and recommendations to all graduates.
• Signing up to be an online volunteer for emotional support through the7 cups Volunteer Opportunities. How Does Volunteering with 7 Cups Work?

It's easy! They provide free online training & support - all we need is an internet connection to get started.

1. Free active listening course'
2. Online volunteering from home (or via app!)'
3. Controlling our availability to listen'
4. Getting certifications to boost our resume'
5. Getting support & coaching from friendly mentors'

• Getting unconditional emotional support at 7 cups anonymously through therapists, counsellors, communities/sub-communities. People connect with listeners on 7 Cups for all kinds of reasons, from big existential thoughts to small, day-to-day things that we all experience. Unlike talking to family or friends, a 7 Cups listener doesn't judge or try to solve problems and say what to do. listeners just listen. They understand. They give us the space we need to help clear our minds.
• We may read Expert Mental Health News, Articles & Advice. Leading doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists and counsellors share mental health news, wisdom, guidance and support with articles on over 50+ topics on 7 Cups.
• Projects we could do to channel our feelings such as:

Writing Projects

• Practice catharsis through journaling each day.
• Learn hand lettering or calligraphy.
• Starting a daily blog/ vlog journaling our experiences for others to read/view.
• Writing poetries or haiku.
• Writing short stories or starting the novel we've always wanted to write.

Art Projects

• Finishing a paint-by-number project.
• needlework, knitting, or crochet project.
• Compiling a photo album that we can share later with others.
• Working on an adult colouring book.
• Taking up a new hobby like jewellery making.
• Taking up origami.

Home Projects

• Starting an organizing project in our house
• Redecorating our space by moving things around or moving things from other rooms.

References:

• Intellect: Create A Better You App/ Learning Path- Acceptance, Intellect Company
• Self-development 2.0 App/ I guaranteed you’ll never say, I'm so tired of being alone article, Laiton Apps.
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sehnsucht
• https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-meaning-of-the-German-word-Sehnsucht?top_ans=158904116
• https://www-insider-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.insider.com/people-less-lonely-if-they-have-empathy-compassion-wisdom-study-2020-9?amp=&amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16583874972576&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insider.com%2Fpeople-less-lonely-if-they-have-empathy-compassion-wisdom-study-2020-9
• https://www.7cups.com/listener/become-a-volunteer-listener.php
• https://albany.galaxydigital.com/agency/detail/?agency_id=111677
• https://www.7cups.com/about
• https://sfresourceconnect.org/detail.php?
• https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-cope-with-loneliness-during-coronavirus-4799661
• https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/488328-people-think-being-alone-makes-you-lonely-but-i-don-t
• https://loveandkinship.com/what-you-should-say-to-someone-whos-feeling-lonely.html
• https://99designs.com/logo-design/contests/help-design-logo-cups-academy-has-trained-over-1049843
• https://unsplash.com/

@SoulfullyAButterfly

A Simple Guide to overcome loneliness during lockdown

Coping with loneliness during the Covid 19 times

The pandemic has created a shift in the normal, forcing us to adjust to a new normal for the sake of going about in our lives. In the midst of following protocols and keeping our loved ones and us safe, the problem of social isolation is unfortunately one of the psychological problem that was unexpectedly spawn as an unwanted consequence. So if you're feeling alone in this scary and unpredictable times, we want you to know that you are not alone , and your fears are completely valid in these troublesome times. However, with simple effort, one can overcome this crippling sensation of loneliness.

Here are some tips to overcome loneliness while also sticking to the pandemic protocols stated by your country or region of residence :

Practicing Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness¹, especially during these times is a is of much essence, as it helps one to work through these feelings and bring our mind on the present

Keeping touch with your family, friends and loved ones: If your family and friends are far away, you can always reach out to them via online voice chats or videocalls. Keeping in touch with your family and friends are always a good way to overcome loneliness.

Continuing your favorite pastimes and hobbies: It's during these times that you can bring back your old hobbies that you might've dropped due to lack of time, and who knows ? Maybe you can find yourself mastering that guitar that you always wanted to.

Exercise : Studies have shown that physical activities makes our body to release endorphins one of the happy hormones, and also makes you fit ! With easily available exercises app in Play store, performing indoor exercises have never been easy.

Reaching out for Online Emotional Support :There are other several websites that provide free online emotional support, the most notable one, being 7 cups of tea². One can chat anonymously with trained listeners, go through helpful growth paths and guides and even connect with several subcommunities that you relate to.

Other healthy coping methods : Activities such as journaling, learning a new language, reading a book, connecting with people who share similar interests with you online are other healthy coping methods that can help you as well.

In times like these, our mental health is always the worst affected. Thus, taking care of ourself, physically, mentally and emotionally³ is of utmost importance to keep up a productive work-life balance every day.

No matter whatever circumstance have been thrown at us, human beings were always able to overcome it and become better than before through the power of grit and determination. This too shall pass, and through small, deliberate and consistent steps, even you can get through this !

We wish you all the best in your journey !

References used :

1. https://thriveworks.com/blog/mindful-meditation-quick-fix-feeling-lonely/

2.https://www.7cups.com/112269556

3. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjIgbbpmZH5AhXP73MBHdT_Cd8QFnoECAUQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.helpguide.org%2Farticles%2Fanxiety%2Fcoronavirus-anxiety.htm%23%3A~%3Atext%3DAvoid%2520talking%2520about%2520the%2520virus%2Cfree%252C%2520emotional%2520support.&usg=AOvVaw0ybyWhQTm-GuwmubsiP9Gp

• https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjIgbbpmZH5AhXP73MBHdT_Cd8QFnoECAUQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.helpguide.org%2Farticles%2Fanxiety%2Fcoronavirus-anxiety.htm%23%3A~%3Atext%3DAvoid%2520talking%2520about%2520the%2520virus%2Cfree%252C%2520emotional%2520support.&usg=AOvVaw0ybyWhQTm-GuwmubsiP9Gp

• https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjIgbbpmZH5AhXP73MBHdT_Cd8QFnoECAMQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.narayanahealth.org%2Fblog%2Fpsychological-problems-associated-with-covid-19%2F%23%3A~%3Atext%3DIn%2520extreme%2520cases%252C%2520people%2Cbe%2520taken%2520for%2520them.&usg=AOvVaw3m505dQbA-EtCLtxamUHpA

• https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjIgbbpmZH5AhXP73MBHdT_Cd8QFnoECAYQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euro.who.int%2Fen%2Fhealth-topics%2Fhealth-emergencies%2Fcoronavirus-covid-19%2Fpublications-and-technical-guidance%2Fnoncommunicable-diseases%2Fstay-physically-active-during-self-quarantine%23%3A~%3Atext%3DSedentary%2520behaviour%2520and%2520low%2520levels%2Ca%2520combination%2520of%2520both.&usg=AOvVaw1QHRtyLhCRRf6K1Zn_TNxr

Note : I couldn't hyperlink the text, so I have added a number as subscript to the words that should be hyperlinked and have added rescpective links adjacent to it in the resources heading.