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What is loneliness?
We are social beings, and most of us feel the need to be close to others and seek out social contact and meaningful relationships. When our need for this type of contact is not met, we can find ourselves feeling alone, and yearning for closeness. This is a common theme and is a common definition of loneliness.

Loneliness and being alone are two different things. Some people may choose to live alone, or work in an environment where they do not often come into contact with other people. Being lonely can mean not feeling part of the world despite having a great deal of social contact with others, or being in a relationship.

Loneliness can have a significant impact upon your mental health and your emotional and physical well-being. It can be a contributing factor in anxiety, depression and can lead to prolonged isolation.
Why do we become lonely? Personal Circumstances: Internal Loneliness:
Sometimes, when we experience a deeper more prolonged sense of loneliness. The causes can come from within ourselves, and will not always lessen regardless of our social situation or how many friends we have. This deep sense of loneliness can happen for a wide variety of reasons, such as:
Mental Health Conditions:

Experiencing a mental health condition can contribute to feelings of loneliness.

Social contact may be difficult and create high levels of anxiety.

You may find it more difficult to maintain relationships or friendships.

The stigma attached to mental health conditions can lead to isolation.

You may find yourself unconsciously or consciously avoiding meeting people.

Practical ways of managing loneliness
Experiencing loneliness is part of being human, and in some ways is unavoidable. This is because, as social beings, we seek closeness with others. However, we can manage our loneliness and find ways to cope. Below are some ways we can manage loneliness.
Reconnect With The World Around You - Making The Most Out Of Social Contact Learn To Spend Time Alone

Being on your own gives you the opportunity to focus on yourself, and your wishes and needs.

Focus on the pleasure you gain from being in your own company.

Do things which hold your personal interest.

Keeping a journal or taking part in yoga or meditation can help you to develop confidence being on your own.

Other Ways To Combat Loneliness How therapy can help with loneliness Moving forward from loneliness
We will all at some point face loneliness, isolation and a deep sense of sadness. At times we may not know why or where these feelings are coming from. We may tell ourselves that we have everything we need, a good job and friends, so have no reason to feel as we do. However, loneliness can be a profoundly deep feeling, and no matter how many possessions we own, or friends we have, we can still find ourselves standing alone within the crowd.

To move forward from these feelings, we must first look directly at our lonely thoughts and understand what they mean and where they come from. This first step takes immense courage, and it is not easy to get in touch with our deeper selves and examine the possibility that our loneliness is not only within ourselves, but also is happening at an existential level.

The most powerful tool we have at our disposal when managing loneliness, is realising that we are not alone in our loneliness. We all experience these feeling at some point. There is some comfort in knowing that this is a universal theme. Over time, we will feel less lonely, and will manage and cope, and find light at end of the tunnel.
Counselling can be a helpful source of support and advice if you are feeling lonely.
About the author

Joshua is an experienced Bereavement Counsellor & Integrative Therapist with particular expertise working with sudden or abrupt loss. He has helped many people work through the pain of their loss. Joshua also has experience working with a wide range of issues such as loneliness, isolation, depression, relationship difficulties and anxiety.
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What is loneliness? We are social beings, and most of us feel the need to be close to others and seek out social contact and meaningful relationships. When our need for this type of contact is not met, we can find ourselves feeling alone, and yearning for closeness.

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Anxiety Chat Room - Anxiety Forums - Anxiety Community - Social Networking - Online Anxiety Support Group - HealthfulChat

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Anxiety Peer Support Community. Includes: anxiety chat room, anxiety forums, anxiety social networking. Free online support group for anxiety.

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Chat Support for Youth Targeted by Bullying
This text only chat room is part of our Don't Stand Alone- Stop Bullying program made for anyone that is a target of bullying in school. We know the lonely and often hopeless feelings a victim of bullying feels. We want to be the place of hope you turn to for support, understanding, and listening ears. You are not alone and we don't want you to stand alone. No matter what a bullies excuses are for bullying you, you will never receive any judgment on RemovingChains.org website! Whether over or under weight, male, female, LGBT or any other label society puts on people, we are here for you! We will listen with unconditional love and without judgment of any kind. RemovingChains.org offers Coaches, mentors and fellow survivors that will listen, encourage and bring you hope. I hope many make this Bullying Target Support Chat Room their oasis to look forward to after school and on weekends.
Click the banner above to register using your RC username

Already registered on our new Removing Chains / YourHope chat app? Click here to log-in

Click to watch the video on our homepage; How to use our Removing Chains sites AND How to register and use our BRAND NEW live chat experience!

Featured Stop Bullying Videos
are shared here in our customized YouTube play list. We share these so to encourage you to not stand alone; to motivate others to stand up in defiance, in live, to be friends; and for all of us to unite against bullying and for peace! press >next in bottom bar to skip to next video Do you know a video that you think should be added? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll check it out. {rokcomments}

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#Bullying Survivors Support Chat Room on #RemovingChains

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DontStandAlone Come to our live chat bullying support room on #RemovingChains support site if you are being targeted by bullies.

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Friendship is a lot like food. We need it to survive. Psychologists find that human beings have a fundamental need for inclusion in group life and for close relationships.

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Talking about depression can be hard, but it's important. Understanding how it's treated and learning about available resources can make the conversation easier.

Depression signs and symptoms

Everyone experiences depression differently. It's not always easy to recognize, but there are common symptoms to look out for.

Feeling sad, blue, tearful, hopeless, guilty, anxious, or irritable

Changes in appetite and/or weight

Sleeping too much or too little

Fatigue and low energy

Problems concentrating, focusing, making decisions, or remembering

Loss of pleasure in activities you usually enjoy

Feeling life isn't worth living or having thoughts of death or suicide

Take a self-assessment

Common issues for people living with depression

Sometimes people living with depression are dealing with other issues, too. Depression can trigger additional problems, or make existing ones worse. Learning about these issues can make it easier for you or someone you care about to find the right support.

Anxiety and panic disorders

Depression and anxiety are different, but they're both common, and often occur together. Some people experience panic attacks, and others live with generalized or social anxiety. If you're dealing with both depression and anxiety, you're not alone - and talking about it can help.

Alcohol and drug use

It's common to lean on things that may help numb negative emotions when you're feeling low. But substance misuse can actually make depression worse. Part of getting help for depression is learning how to cope with feelings in healthy ways, without drugs or alcohol.

Relationship issues

Depression affects everyone it touches - not just people living with it, but their friends, family, and loved ones, too. Depression can create physical and emotional distance between people, even when they care deeply about each other. Communication is key - talking about what you're both experiencing and getting the right support can help you get through tough times together and keep your relationship strong.

Sleep problems

Many people living with depression experience changes in their sleep habits. Not being able to sleep (insomnia) is a common symptom of depression - but so is oversleeping. Sleeping too much or too little can't cause depression, but it does play a role in how you feel overall. If you're having sleep problems, talk to your doctor. There are things you can do to help your body settle into a healthy sleep schedule.

Bipolar disorder

Also known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme changes in mood. People experience intense highs and lows - cycling between mania (heightened energy) and depression. Bipolar disorder is also treatable, but it's treated differently than depression. If you think you may be experiencing mania, talk to your doctor.

Thoughts of suicide

Sometimes depression feels so intense, you'd do anything to end your pain. Suicidal thoughts aren't unusual, and they're nothing to be ashamed of. They're a sign that it's time to talk to someone.

Are you thinking of ending your life? People at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. external page are available 24/7 to listen and help. Call 1-800-273-8255 1-800-273-8255 to talk, or click the link to chat. You can also call 911 911 or go to the nearest hospital.

Depression in children and teens

Growing up isn't easy - family problems, peer pressure, and issues around sexuality and gender identity can be overwhelming when you're a teenager or young adult. Ups and downs are normal - but if you think you're depressed, find your words and ask a trusted adult for help.

It can be especially challenging for younger people to talk about depression. Symptoms can be different in kids and teens - so it's important for adults to know what to look for.

Getting help for depression

For some people, practicing self-care through things like meditation and exercise can help ease symptoms of depression. Others may need professional support, which can include counseling, medication, or a combination of both.

If you think you might be depressed, talk to your doctor, or reach out to your health plan to see what's available to you. If you work, your company may have an Employee Assistance Program that can help. No matter what your situation is, there are resources available that can connect you to the support you need.

If you feel like you can't cope, that your life isn't worth living, or if you're having thoughts of suicide, get help now. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 1-800-273-8255. Local crisis workers are available 24/7 to listen and help. If you think you or someone you care for is having a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 911 or go to the nearest hospital.

Crisis Text Line

In crisis? Text "WORDS" to 741741 to text with a trained Crisis Counselor for free, 24/7 from anywhere in the US.

Kaiser Permanente members

If you're a Kaiser Permanente member, we'll connect you to the care you need. Visit kp.org/getcare. external page anytime to find mental health and wellness professionals in your area. You don't need a referral to make an appointment.

INSIGHTS

Insights from our national poll

We need to challenge misconceptions about depression

Source: Kaiser Permanente commissioned KRC Research to conduct a 15-minute online survey among a total of 3,005 U.S. adults from August 10-16, 2017.

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Understanding Depression - Signs & Getting Help | Kaiser Permanente

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Talking about depression can be hard, but it's important. Understanding how it's treated and learning about available resources can make the conversation easier. Everyone experiences depression differently. It's not always easy to recognize, but there are common symptoms to look out for.

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How To Overcome Fear And Anxiety In 30 Seconds

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Join Life Mastery Accelerator: http://lifemasteryaccelerator.com/ Get Your Free Life Mastery Toolkit: http://www.projectlifemastery.com/subscribe In this video Stefan talks about how to overcome fear and anxiety in 30 seconds or less. "Now fear is something that I am familiar with because I grew up with a lot of it.

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Anxiety disorders affect nearly 1 in 5 American adults each year, creating fear and uncertainty that interferes with everyday activities. The good news is that most anxiety disorders get better with treatment.

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Stop Bullying on the Spot

When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior they send the message that it is not acceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time.

Parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.

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StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on bullying, cyberbullying, prevention and response.