6) Ensuring Best Writing Practices (OUTDATED)

Chosen Article: https://www.7cups.com/experts/article/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-the-different-types

3 Top Strengths of Article

• Using the DSM 5 as a source provides a sense of trust with the authors content because the DSM 5 is the authority on how to diagnose mental health conditions.

• The author was very thorough, yet concise in how she described the different types of PTSD and how they differ from one another

• The author also provides the reader with empathy and hope by providing resources to help when someone is experiencing symptoms related to PTSD.

EAT from Article:

Expertise: author graduated from CDM Program, is a listener on 7cups, and has spent time learning about the topic.

Authoritativeness: has completed the CDM Program and had other articles published on 7cups

Trust: using reputable sources and providing accurate information about the topic.

@SoulfullyAButterflyLoneliness is normal but can hurt, good news is everyone experiences it at some point in their life and there are coping strategies that have helped many people. The pandemic has resulted in increased rates reported of individuals with feelings of loneliness and isolation. Although we see restrictions lift in most major cities, many people find it difficult to return to post-pandemic normals. Hajek and König uncovered that people most vulnerable to loneliness/social isolation were males, younger people, single people (divorced and widowed included), newly immigrated, those lacking extra-curricular activities, and those who avoided smoking/drinking(2022). If one is feeling lonely or socially isolated, Mia, an expert writer for 7 Cups, has some coping strategies. The article is framed for the holidays but is still relevant all year. Mia states that coping strategies such as practicing gratitude, connection, helping others in need, and distracting extra-curricular activities have helped members of the 7 Cups community when feeling solitude and loneliness. It is encouraging that this is available in a free and online capacity increasing access to support for people vulnerable to isolation. To wrap up, coping during the pandemic changed due to restrictions, and despite easing restrictions, lonely people will still benefit from adapting coping strategies embodied in the community at 7 cups.

Hajek, A., König, HH. Prevalence and correlates of loneliness, perceived and objective social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence from a representative survey in Germany. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 57, 1969–1978 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-022-02295-x

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-022-02295-x

Mia. (2020, December 25). Coping with Loneliness During the Holidays. 7 Cups. Retrieved January 6, 2023, from https://www.7cups.com/experts/article/coping-with-loneliness-during-the-holidays

Explanation of Paragraph

I started by checking out WordStream and curating a list of keywords for the content. After this, I read a few recent scholarly articles, searching the keywords pandemic and loneliness. I decided my paragraph's focus would lean into the audience most vulnerable to social isolation/loneliness and quoted the experts. The tone of this paragraph is to be an informative expert, including scholarly evidence that identified vulnerable populations satisfied this. I paid particular attention to the section ‘Things To Avoid’ in the Discussion notes. My unique take was acknowledging vulnerable groups and including current research content that relates not only to the topic but the community outreach that 7 Cups is doing.

@SoulfullyAButterfly

In addition to pandemics, loneliness can cause the same trauma to the body as COVID-19. In April 2020, 95 percent of Americans were ordered to stay home to help stop the spread of COVID-19. While social distance is a vital life-saving measure, this new state of solitude can affect people’s mental health. In fact, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline has recently seen a 300 percent increase in phone calls. (Psychology Today April 20, 2020). The article discussed how loneliness can increase the risk of mental health issues like depressive symptoms and physical health issues like insomnia. It becomes a cycle of growing issues of mental and physical wellness when our inner critic is telling us "You’re all alone." You’re so pathetic. You can’t handle this. You’re a mess. You’re so selfish, lazy, useless, out of shape, etc."

In the article, one exercise for coping with loneliness discusses writing down your inner voices in the "You" statement to separate the first-person viewpoint from that of being an observer. For example, if your inner critic says to you "I'm alone" then if you observe it you can change it to say "I have people who love me and support me."

As each of us has different circumstances and situations that can add stress and fuel a negative inner critic, facing loneliness is not an easy task. The fight against loneliness becomes less daunting and more hopeful with patience and a positive support group.

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/202004/coping-loneliness-during-pandemic

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Feeling Isolated

Covid-19 has had a tremendous effect on our everyday lives. It can be a tough time, not being able to see your friends and leave the house. Feeling lonely can be common during these times. Let's discuss how we can combat this.

One way to prevent loneliness is by actively keeping in contact with your friends and family. This could be through Zoom calls; for example, my friends and I did a weekly Zoom dinner party. This helped maintain my relationships while still socially distancing.

Another way could be starting a new hobby. This can be excited and can help forget about having to be isolated. You could start reading, painting, and music. Hobbies have been shown to lower depressive symptoms (Fancourt et al., 2022).

@SoulfullyAButterfly

5. How to Cope with Loneliness during the Pandemic

We, humans are social animals, and the pandemic has had a detrimental effect on the social life of us, which has led to increased loneliness among individuals of all ages. The main factors causing loneliness during the COVID‑19 pandemic are Age (in a U‑shape way), gender, quality of social contacts, low competence, socio‑economicstatus, and chronic medical conditions (Solmi et. al., 2020). The problem with loneliness is it can cause significant decrease in mental as well as physical health.

lReach out to family and friends in all possible ways like video calls, phone calls and chats, so that one might feel more connected with the outside world

lTry something new, a hobby, a club or virtual camps that can be done within the restrictions of the pandemic. Engaging oneself in different activities can help in coping with loneliness.

lShare your feelings with others, express yourself more and if needed be part of psychological support groups and communities, where you can share your emotions and experiences in a safe space without being judged.

For more information go through the detailed article.

Other References

lSolmi, Marco, Nicola Veronese, Daiana Galvano, Angela Favaro, Edoardo G. Ostinelli, Vania Noventa, Elisa Favaretto, Florina Tudor, Matilde Finessi, Jae Il Shin, and et al. 2020. Factors Associated With Loneliness: An Umbrella Review Of Observational Studies. Journal of Affective Disorders 271: 131–38

@SoulfullyAButterfly

How to Cope with Loneliness during the Pandemic

We, humans are social animals, and the pandemic has had a detrimental effect on the social life of us, which has led to increased loneliness among individuals of all ages. The main factors causing loneliness during the COVID‑19 pandemic are Age (in a U‑shape way), gender, quality of social contacts, low competence, socio‑economicstatus, and chronic medical conditions (Solmi et. al., 2020). The problem with loneliness is it can cause significant decrease in mental as well as physical health.

• Reach out to family and friends in all possible ways like video calls, phone calls and chats, so that one might feel more connected with the outside world
• Try something new, a hobby, a club or virtual camps that can be done within the restrictions of the pandemic. Engaging oneself in different activities can help in coping with loneliness
• Share your feelings with others, express yourself more and if needed be part of psychological support groups and communities, where you can share your emotions and experiences in a safe space without being judged.

For more information go through the detailed article.

Other References

Solmi, Marco, Nicola Veronese, Daiana Galvano, Angela Favaro, Edoardo G. Ostinelli, Vania Noventa, Elisa Favaretto, Florina Tudor, Matilde Finessi, Jae Il Shin, and et al. 2020. Factors Associated With Loneliness: An Umbrella Review Of Observational Studies. Journal of Affective Disorders 271: 131–38

Topic: “Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Article:

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges, and one of the most significant challenges has been the feeling of loneliness. With the global lockdowns, social distancing measures, and restrictions on gatherings, people have been cut off from their social support systems and routine interactions with others. As a result, many people are experiencing feelings of isolation, sadness, and depression.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), loneliness and social isolation have been identified as significant risk factors for mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Furthermore, a recent study by the Mental Health Foundation found that loneliness levels in the UK have increased significantly since the pandemic began, with almost half of all adults (45%) reporting feeling lonely at least sometimes, compared to just over a quarter (26%) before the pandemic.

It is crucial to address the issue of loneliness during this challenging time and to provide support to those who are struggling. This article aims to provide practical tips and resources to help individuals cope with feelings of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources:

• World Health Organization. (2021, January 28). Loneliness and social isolation as a major public health issue. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/world-health-day-2021
  
• Mental Health Foundation. (2021, June). The Loneliness Report. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/loneliness-report

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Alternatives to Social Gatherings

Studies have shown that loneliness increased during the pandemic, and that having social interactions is especially important to your mental health. So, how can you avoid loneliness during the pandemic? There are some alternatives to social gatherings that might benefit you. These alternatives include but are not limited to: planning virtual gatherings, writing letters, and playing online games together. The Center for Disease Control also points out that social gatherings are possible to have safely. To keep them safe, you can have the gathering in a well-ventilated area (or outside), encourage everyone to wear masks, and keep the gathering shorter than usual.

Pai N, Vella SL. COVID-19 and loneliness: A rapid systematic review. Aust N Z J Psychiatry.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Small public gatherings (who.int)

Coping With Loneliness During The Covid-19 Pandemic

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, life literally turned upside down. To date, well over 6.8 million people were wiped from the Earth. Those "fortunate" enough to be alive feared for their safety and the lives of themselves and of their loved ones. They struggled to find peace; and happiness became a thing of the past. I mean, how could one find happiness in the midst of so much death and depression? While it may seem like an impossible answer, I'm here to tell you that there are several ways to cope to be able to experience just a bit of joy... Read on...

(to be continued)

Source used: WHO Coronavirus Dashboard [https://covid19.who.int/]

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19

4 Different Ways to Alleviate Feelings of Loneliness

(https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-gray-long-sleeve-shirt-sitting-on-brown-wooden-chair-5255996/)

The Covid-19 pandemic is one of the biggest global crises we have ever faced, with its major impact on economies, societies and different industries like health, technology and tourism. When talking about the pandemic's effect on physical health, it's natural that mental health would also be affected, just like in any other crisis. One common feature of the pandemic was loneliness, caused due to social distancing rules and fear of the virus. Since social connectedness is a core component of our well-being, isolation adds to our psychological distress, further increasing any feelings of anxiety and depression. What we can understand from observation is that feelings of loneliness are normal since many tend to experience it in such a situation, and that there are certainly ways to alleviate these feelings. You could try :

1) Doing more of your hobbies - Make a list of all the things that interest you, no matter how big or small. This can include reading books, listening to podcasts on apps like Google Podcasts, watching movies and TV shows, exercising, taking a walk outside when possible and much more. Practicing hobbies is a good way to pass time and feel energized, which is very true for me and many others whom I know!

2) Learning something new - In case you have more time now than before the pandemic, you can try free online courses such as edX and FutureLearn, learn a new language through apps like Duolingo, learn a new instrument. Learning new skills or gaining knowledge can help you feel productive, satisfied and motivated to do many more activities in your day, and will benefit you in your personal and work life.

3) Finding alternative ways to stay connected with your loved ones - Now comes the social part! There are many ways to communicate with your family and friends, even those whom you haven't spoken to for a long while. You communicate through phone calls, messaging and social media apps like WhatsApp and ***, and video call platforms like Google Meet and Zoom, which are becoming more popular since the shift from offline to online. As mentioned earlier, your loved ones are most likely feeling similar to you and listening and talking about such feelings can reduce your own distress and increase social bonding.

4) Connecting with new people, providing support to others or seeking support - There are many offline and online clubs and communities that you can search for, where in my experience, 7 Cups is one such mental health online platform where you can do all of the above three. You can meet new friends, volunteer your time by listening to and helping others' or seek support from your listener peers. Expanding on the point of seeking support, you can search for mental health professionals on 7 cups and other websites who can help you with a wide range of mental health topics, including loneliness. You could also try mental health apps like Calm (for relaxation techniques) and Daylio (for journaling thoughts and feelings) that help improve your psychological well-being. I remember discovering these apps during the pandemic and because it helped me feel better, I shared this idea with everyone I knew, including you!

It may take some time to figure out which of the above are beneficial to you, since everyone differs in personality and how they experience loneliness. So try having a mixed approach and keep trying. We are not alone in our struggles due to the pandemic, and it is definitely possible to feel better while we search for ways to cope.

References :

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/loneliness/tips-to-manage-loneliness/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7306943/

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

https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-mental-health-cannot-be-made-light-of

Article written by : GloriaD (A Verified Active Listener on 7 Cups)