Today’s Solutions: November 02, 2024

95 percent of Americans are under shelter in place orders to stop the spread of COVID-19, but the repercussions of loneliness can also be dangerous to our mental wellbeing. Calls to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline are up 300 percent. So how can we cope with loneliness during the pandemic? Standing up to the negative voice in your head in the first step. 

It’s very easy, especially if you are isolating alone, to let your negative thoughts about yourself run wild. Spending time with others has positive physical and mental health effects because we are social creatures that crave interaction. So when we are alone, we succumb to the voice in our heads that may be telling us we are inadequate or that others don’t want to spend time with us. It’s time to confront this voice. 

In addition to regular healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercising, getting plenty of sleep, and spending some time outdoors, make time to note the things that you are grateful for in your life and the things you are proud of. Journaling is a great way to do this or you can take a quiet moment to reflect on it in your day. If you’re feeling constantly overwhelmed by loneliness or hopelessness, you could also benefit from speaking to a mental health professional about what you are experiencing. You can consult your regular physician for a referral or find a therapist via Psychology Today.

In addition to confronting your own self-criticism, find ways to stay connected to those around you, even if you can’t meet in person. Video chat, phone calls, virtual game nights, and online book clubs are all excellent ways to feel a sense of companionship in isolation. 

COVID-19 is exacerbating feelings of loneliness for many people, but isolation is an epidemic that has plagued Americans long before coronavirus came around. 61 percent of Americans over age 18 struggle with feeling lonely. Take time in your day to reconnect with those you love and confront the negative voices in your head. You may even develop a healthy routine you can stick to long after the shelter in place orders are lifted. 

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

This heartwarming Danish ad breaks down the ‘Us vs Them’ narrative

It’s rare that we publish a story about an advertisement, but then again it’s rare that an ad stirs so much emotion within its ...

Read More

NOAHs: Charlotte has a formula for long-lasting affordable housing

We recently shared how empty retail space could be the solution to California’s affordable housing crisis. Across the country in North Carolina, the city ...

Read More

A seat at the table for underrepresented communities

Climate change is already affecting all of us—however, those that bear the brunt of these consequences are predominantly from low-income, marginalized, BIPOC communities. So ...

Read More

Expanding democracy: Michigan opens new doors for formerly incarcerated voters

Malijah Gee's path from incarceration at the age of 17 to imminent freedom reflects the longing for a voice that has been suppressed for 36 years. ...

Read More