In 2019, 2 in 5 Americans reported feeling lonely or isolated. They also reported that these feelings contributed to poor mental health. These figures only increased in 2020.

If loneliness is weighing on you, you’re not alone. Managing your emotions can make a huge difference when it comes to combating loneliness. If you are starting to feel lonely most of your time, we are here to help.

The Loneliness Epidemic

2020 has seen a dramatic shift in how we live and socialize with strict lockdowns imposed, and social gatherings limited.

Although these measures are necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Humans are social creatures. The effects of isolation have been devastating to our mental well-being. Even before COVID-19, levels of loneliness among American adults were at an all-time high. This led researchers to declare a “loneliness epidemic” in the United States.

Loneliness is a common feeling to experience but it shouldn’t be ignored. Feelings of loneliness can worsen existing mental health issues and be damaging to both physical and mental health.

How to Deal with Loneliness

Loneliness can feel overwhelming, but there are a few things you can do to deal with your feelings. In the short term, it’s often easy to get rid of lonely feelings, even by yourself. The entirety of the internet is one big distraction, full of content to read, listen to, and watch to distract yourself from the feeling of loneliness. There’s even premium adult content for those who need a bit of imagined intimacy. And all of it is either free or subsidized with offers such as this Brazzers Discount and OnlyFans coupon codes. In any case, there’s no shortage of temporary distractions to get rid of lonely feelings in the short term. However, more long-term solutions involve techniques for managing your emotions, ways to connect, and recognizing when to seek professional advice.

Managing Your Emotions

It’s important to recognize that you control your thoughts, they do not control you. This is why the first step to tackling loneliness is to change your thought patterns around your state of being.

First, accept your emotions and recognize their presence. Denying your loneliness only suppresses it and worsens its effects. It might help to say to yourself, “I’m feeling lonely, and that’s okay!”. Becoming aware of how your thoughts shape your reality makes managing your loneliness a lot easier.

Once you’re fully aware of your feelings, counteract emotions with verbal or written cues. Keep reminding yourself that you are not alone in your loneliness. Remember that this emotion is natural. Tell yourself that every feeling is temporary, even if it doesn’t feel that way at the time. You can also look for products like a custom anime body pillow to counter the feeling of loneliness since body pillows with sexy anime prints can become a comfort object. It can trick your brain into thinking you have someone besides you on a lonely night.

Finding Connection

Finding connections doesn’t have to mean leaving your house and hanging out with friends. A great way to develop new connections is through online communities. Try taking up a hobby or joining an online fan community. If you need to get satisfied sexually, look for partners online. You can also make use of Realistic Adult Sex Dolls to spend your nights less lonely. However, keep looking for personal connections outside your home via online communities.

Online communities provide socialization and are a great way of finding people you have something in common with.

If this isn’t your thing, reach out to your social network and set regular video chat dates. Regular interaction, even over Zoom, can do wonders for your emotional well-being. You could also get in touch with an escort directory such as hot.ch and others like it to find temporary companionship for yourself. The taboo around sex workers is reducing day by day, and it is not as frowned upon these days as it used to be a few decades ago. Especially for people looking for connection, it can be quite relieving and helpful.

Depression and Loneliness: Recognizing the Difference

If you’ve been isolating alone at home, feelings of loneliness are to be expected. However, if this feeling is prolonged and accompanied by other symptoms of depression, it might be time to seek professional help from a psychologist.

Getting Help

Managing your emotions and making connections can only get you so far. If you’re battling to cope with feelings of loneliness, it’s definitely time to reach out to a professional.

You don’t have to have a diagnosed mental illness to seek counseling. Speaking with a therapist is the best way to counteract feelings of loneliness and develop a personalized plan for coping. To make an appointment or find out more about the mental health services on offer, get in touch today.