6) Ensuring Best Writing Practices

Loneliness is something that most, if not all of us experience at some point in our lives. However, the COVID 19 pandemic has made it more prevalent since we have had to social distance, making it far more challenging to interact with others in person, especially our loved ones. There are many ways that we can cope with the increasing challenges that loneliness has brought us. Some of them are utilizing social media, such as ***, to connect with our friends and family, doing video calls and meetings with people through Zoom, learning a new hobby through online tutorials which can be found on Youtube, and joining an online support community such as 7 cups. Socializing may be different than it was before the pandemic but it’s still possible to stay in touch with people. It can take some getting used to however and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed when we’re learning new ways of connecting.

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

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The Covid-19 Pandemic Isn’t Over For Everyone: The Immunocompromised and Coping with Loneliness

Storefronts are open to the public, restaurants are offering dining again, most employers have reopened office doors and many local and regional events are rushed with attendees who are relieved that the pandemic is over. But is it over for everyone? While life has seemingly began to move forward for many as Pandemic precautions are lifted, though these same confines have not lifted for those who are immunocompromised and those who spend time with them, loved ones and caretakers alike.

Why am I struggling? Why can't I just be okay?

According to Dr. Jay Van Bavel, Associate Professor of Psychology and Neural Science of NYU, there are three areas that correlate with our overall sense of psychological well-being that are rooted in our most essential human needs of connection (socially and emotionally) and having a sense of control over our lives and its outcomes (Bavel et al, 2020). Dr. Ma. Teresa Tuason, who has analyzed the works of Bavel, explains that social deprivation itself, the feelings that surface from social disconnectedness and isolation, and our lost sense of control predict significant harmful impacts on our psychological well-being even without taking our physical wellness into consideration (Tuason et al, 2021).

In order to shed light on why this insight is so crucial is to understand that if you’re suffering emotionally from loneliness at this time, it’s completely natural. There is nothing wrong with you. You are not weak. You are human and having a completely realistic response to these circumstances. Once we embrace this truth, we can seek insight on how to confront and overcome these effects and cope with this loneliness. Because it is possible to, not only survive, but thrive during these times.

Based on research, those who became or remained resilient in the face of Pandemic-related uncertainty, focused on these 4 areas of coping (Tuason et all, 2021). These 4 areas are:

(1) Focus on where you do have control. What empowers you? What choices could you make, or activities you could pursue, that boost or maintain your health and confidence? Some ideas include: sitting or taking a walk outside for fresh air, taking interest in your nutrition, learning a new skill or hobby from the comfort and safety of your home, creating a sanctuary within your home, focus on emotional/mental/spiritual growth, etc.

(2) Healthy Distractions. Finding ways to cope that help distract your mind from dwelling on the challenges of your current reality. Some examples include: reading, writing, listening to music, watching tv or a movie, etc.

(3) Our Attitude Matters. When we keep a positive perspective, we are more likely to appreciate the good all around us and in our lives. Some helpful exercises to condition our mind toward having a positive attitude could be: keeping a gratitude journal, keeping a list of Acts of Kindness (received, performed by us, and witnessed between others), etc.

(4) Connect with Others, as per your comfort and safety. This may look like connecting with loved ones virtually, meeting new online friends from around the world, organizing get-togethers with trusted Covid-19 negative loved ones, or even seeking therapeutic supports online or locally.

Are you having difficulty finding therapeutic resources online? Here are some resources that may interest you that I encourage you to check out.

(Resources will be placed here later)

You can find more about the research of Dr. Bavel and Dr. Tuason and their teams below.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0248591#pone.0248591.ref013 -TUA

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-0884-z -BAV

(Proper Citations will come later)

Coping with loneliness during the Covid-19 pandemic

Are you dealing with loneliness? According to this article from Statista, as many as 30% of adults are feeling lonely at one time, so it's likely that most adults have experienced loneliness at some point in their life. Causes of loneliness can include being isolated, having a major life change, being part of a marginalized group, and other causes (see here), so it's easy to be affected by it at some point. This can also have a major effect on your health, even leading to shortening your life by multiple years (source).

A major global event like the pandemic can both trigger loneliness and make loneliness worse for those who already have it. If this is happening to you, it's important to reach out for support. You can reach out on 7cups, find a therapist, or reach out to friends and family. All of these methods can reduce loneliness or reduce the severity.

This article from Forbes also has other coping mechanisms, such as finding hobbies and volunteering. It's important to find coping strategies that work for you. Also, it can be a good idea to combine multiple coping strategies, which is going to comprehensively support you.

If you need further guidance about how to deal with loneliness, the pandemic, or other complicating factors, here are two relevant article series that 7cups provides in our trainings.

Loneliness

Anxiety

@SoulfullyAButterfly read and understood.

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Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ways to cope with loneliness during this pandemic

Coping with loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic can be challenging, but there are strategies that can help. First, maintain social connections virtually by scheduling regular video calls with friends and family. Engage in hobbies or activities that bring you joy and provide a sense of fulfillment. Take advantage of online communities and support groups to connect with like-minded individuals. Prioritize self-care by establishing a routine that includes exercise, healthy eating, and quality sleep. Limit exposure to news and focus on positive and uplifting content. Lastly, consider seeking professional help through teletherapy or professional counseling if feelings of loneliness persist. Remember, you are not alone, and there are resources available to support you. These strategies were inspired by this article which can be found here.

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Coping with Loneliness during COVID 19 pandemic in the Netherlands

During these challenging times, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of older individuals who may be experiencing increased loneliness. While their mental health remains stable, the pandemic has affected their emotional connections. To combat isolation, maintain regular contact with loved ones through phone calls, emails, social media, or video conferences. Stick to routines for eating, sleeping, and enjoyable activities to provide a sense of normalcy. Learn simple daily exercises to maintain mobility at home during quarantine. Seek practical help when needed, such as arranging transportation or obtaining necessary supplies. Remember, support is available from family, friends, and neighbors. Together, we can navigate these difficulties with empathy and care.

Sources https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article/76/7/e249/5881273

WHO

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Loneliness before and during the Covid pandemic

Loneliness is an unpleasant feeling of being alone and separated. This feeling is quite common in elder members of the society. It is often observed that people who like to stay indoors end up feeling lonely. However, chronic loneliness can harm a person’s mental health. Surprisingly, it is also associated with a plethora of cardiovascular diseases. During the pandemic, we got to see an increase in people with this condition. Due to the implementation of social distancing, there was a physical social disconnection among the members of the society. The feeling of solitude, social isolation and lack of family support became a matter of concern. The quote" Man is by nature a social animal "is indeed true.

Research conducted in Norway shows the effects of loneliness before and during Covid.

Locked and lonely? A longitudinal assessment of loneliness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway (sagepub.com)

Sources:

COVID-19 pandemic led to increase in loneliness around the world (apa.org)

Loneliness and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic - PMC (nih.gov)

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Connecting with Support through Social Media

One way for people to cope with loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic is connecting with one’s support system such as through social media. According to studies, social media when used daily or less often leads to less social and emotional loneliness amongst people of different ages, particularly middle and older aged groups (Bonsaken et al 2021). This study was completed with a demographic who generally had a higher education, employed and cohabilitating witb a souse or partner. Bonsaken et al. (2021) adds that using social media several times a day and Smokey young adult age groups have more emotional loneliness. According to the article “Managing isolation and loneliness during COVID-19” social media can be helpful if used wisely to maintain connections with people such as family or friends. From Psychology Today, people reported that generally those with initially have other to connect with have felt less lonely using social media compared to those who were lonely before the pandemic who did not benefit from using social media. Other virtual activities such as online support groups and video chatting with friends have aldo been told to cope with loneliness

Sources:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20563051211033821

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/managing-isolation-and-loneliness-during-covid-19#:~:text=Consider%20creative%20ways%20to%20deal,feel%20less%20sad%20or%20upset.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/digital-world-real-world/202303/loneliness-and-social-media-use-amid-and-after-the-pandemic?amp

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Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Changes in College Environment

Stages of the pandemic brought around many new enforced social expectations both in personal and professional environments. In my case, I was forced to move off my college campus at the start of the pandemic in early April and courses quickly moved to online leaving me stuck at home for most or all of the week unless to go out for necessities. Whether it be missing socializing or relationships or events, even before the pandemic waves took over it was difficult to balance life to avoid loneliness. Once the safety measures for the waves were put in place, being confined or forced to stay in an uncomfortable environment without the freedom to get out to experience central social exchanges affected a large amount of individuals. Specifically those in higher education with lower subject health, often associated with a stereotypical college students diet. A study showed higher social loneliness in those situations but those who lived with partners are more likely to walk away from pandemic confinement due to the oxytocin released.
Many in living situations without partners resorted to other coping behaviors such as mental disengagement and humor through social media and memes, researching various topics of interest, focusing on spiritual/personal growth with extreme success rates in improving states of loneliness.

During the pandemic, some still working had opportunities to have constant social exchanges that might not have always been received by a warm, welcome heart while some were stuck at home behind a computer wishing for more. Coping mechanisms are an important part of any situation, but there is always hope at the end of the tunnel.

Lampraki, C., Hoffman, A., Roquet, A., & Jopp, D. (2022). Loneliness during COVID-19: Development and influencing factors. PLOS ONE, 17(3), e0265900. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265900

Europe PMC. (n.d.). Europe PMC. https://europepmc.org/article/ppr/ppr309443