@SoulfullyAButterfly

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Still feeling caged? Get extra support from websites curated for you:

At such a difficult time, we need as much support as we can get. As shown here, WHO—World Health Organization—has stressed that it is crucial to connect to those we trust. Talk, and be open about how we feel. According to kff.org, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S have reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. Feelings of loneliness, stress, anxiety, and frustration are evidently the most recurring symptoms following a lockdown. We feel caged. We feel more unheard than we ever have. Who is there to listen to us?

We are. 7 Cups is a confidential, safe, and supportive website providing access to many mental health resources, self-help guides, group support, and trained listeners here to give you a helping hand.

Ways to Combat Loneliness During Covid-19

In March of 2020, our lives were changed. When we first heard news of the Corona Virus outbreak, we didn’t know how isolating and difficult it would be. Here are four tips that will help you navigate these lonely times during the pandemic!

1. Connect with loved ones virtually. You don’t have to travel to see someone in person. With new apps being developed such as Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Meets, you are able to meet up with people all over the world. Even before the pandemic, people were used to communicating with people when they couldn’t see each other in person.

2. Remind yourself of the good times! It can be easy to forget about all the fun you had before the pandemic, whether it was going to a birthday party, hanging out with friends, etc., but going through those memories again will help you feel better. You can laugh with your family on Zoom, going over a scrapbook of family memories or even video recordings.

3. Connect with old friends. Whether you’ve moved to a different location, or haven’t seen your childhood best friend in ages, it’s nice to connect with people you haven’t talked to in a while! You can reminisce on old memories, which will help you feel less alone. Since it’s been a while since you guys last spoke, you can catch up on the new things going on in your lives. That can take a couple of call sessions depending on your lives, so you’ll have more company and even make plans to talk in the future.
4. Get vaccinated. Once you get your two doses, you will be able to hang out with your friends and loved ones. Not only is getting vaccines free, it is also an easy process! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly recommends getting vaccinated. You’ll be able to travel anywhere you desire, and you can protect those around you! It’s a win-win situation and you get to feel less lonely. While things may not be completely back to normal, you’ll be able to hang out with more people: the closest thing we have to normal.

We are all in this together and we will get through this pandemic! One step at a time!

*sources: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rsmdiscovery/2020/05/08/four-simple-ways-to-combat-the-loneliness-caused-by-covid-19/?sh=26c488e04524

@SoulfullyAButterfly

“Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic as a Student"

It might have been fun at first to be in online classes and not wear pants or do your classes in bed on certain lazy days. But, as more time went by, you start to become less connected with the outside world. Due to restrictions and lockdowns, you might have been experiencing loneliness as you weren't able to see your friends and make new friends or go to events to participate in and interact with others who are also interested in the event. Maybe certain events at school got canceled that you were hoping to participate in and make memories of. Reading the news about current events or seeing influencers going to parties and endangering everyone around them while they have fun. All of these struggles and negative thoughts are piling up and you feel like you are going to suffocate or you are slowly going into a dark pit.

I might have been too descriptive in the previous paragraph, but that is what I felt in the middle of 2020. It's completely normal to feel this way or not if you don's share my experience. We all have our own unique and similar problems. I would like to offer ways you can deal with the problems or thoughts that I have described above.

1. Learn to enjoy solitude. Practice mindfulness or meditation. There will be a lot of times when you are going to be alone for a very long time and you cannot escape yourself so might as well enjoy your time. Journaling can also help to understand your thought process and writing it out can make your mind more clear.
2. Do stuff that you want(aka hobbies). Play video games that you wanted to play but never had the opportunity or learn a new language that seems interesting. Movies, music, family events, podcasts, cooking, DIYs, arts and other activities It might be guilty to enjoy stuff that seems unproductive or a waste of time, but maybe you can start planning ahead when you want to do an activity or do to-do lists to make sure you will have the time for your new hobby in the weekend.
3. Try to do good in the world. There are ways you can help someone online by volunteering on programs such as 7cups to be a listener.
4. Write to others first to stay connected. If you really want to hang out with someone or get to know them, write them a sincere message that you want to make acquaintance or you want to play a game with them, maybe ask them for help with work, anything that can spark a conversation. Even if they don't want to hang out with you, at least you know and won't waste time on them in the future.

All of the above tips are personal things that helped me. There are of course certain factors to consider, for example, I personally love being organized and have a planner that keeps me in shape and doesn't let my deadlines eat me alive. There are other articles to consider if you need extra help, or you didn't find help in my writing post. You are welcome to explore other sources to find the help that is needed for you.

https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/psychiatry/michigan-psychiatry-resources-covid-19/adults-specific-resources/coping-covid-19-pandemic-college-student
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/college-covid-pandemic
https://health.cornell.edu/coping-during-covid-19

How to Cope With Loneliness During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Feeling Yourself When the World Isn't

It all happened too quickly: the shut downs, masks, and distances. There was no way any of us could have been prepared for what came. COVID-19's pandemic isolated each one of us, leaving yourself in just our thoughts. We had minimal ways to socialize throughout the day. Hence, loneliness became a common manner for many of us. Not to fret! There are plenty of practices to help you cope with this new world; Let's walk through a couple ideas that could possibly fit you! One example is to keep a schedule. This could help the days feel more structured and easier to get through. In your day, it's a great idea to include some time to journal. "These tracking systems will help you to feel like you are being proactive about the situation" (Verywell Mind). Tip two: stay informed. "While you do not want to feed your anxiety and fear through constant updates about the state of the virus" (Verywell Mind), it could be helpful to set a coming date of world recovery, helping you to look forward to something to feel ease to. That saying, try to distance yourself from any media-related apps which provide anxiety: snapchat, instagram, Tik tok, etc. Last tip: staying active. While we are focusing on our mental stability, "we sometimes forget that our physical and mental health are delicately intertwined" (Verywell Mind). Consequently, take care of your physical body by exercising, eating, and sleeping right. How you do so is determined by you, so make a plan for yourself and reflect on it in your journal! That goes with all the tips listed here: everyone has their own preferences of how they deal with coping. Some of these tips could work wonderfully while others don't, and that's okay. You are unique, special, and loved!

Source 1

Source 2

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

For many of us, feelings of loneliness can be harder to deal with during the festive season, a situation compounded by COVID-19 restrictions. We look at some simple solutions that can help us to cope during periods of isolation.

1. The Best Thing You Can Do To Combat Loneliness In This Situation Is To Contact Your Family And Friends In A Non-Traditional Way. Like Calling Them On Telephone Or Sending Them Hand Written Letters.
2. You Can Be Creative In Your Free Time. You Can Explore Your Hidden Talents. Get A Sketchpad If You're Good At Sketching And Create Something Good. Do Things That Make You Happy.
3. You Have To Stay Active To Deal With This Issue. You Can Go To A Morning Walk Around Your Neighbourhood Or Maybe Do Yoga.
4. Last But Not The Least, Keep Yourself Distracted. Ever Heard Of Netflix And Chill?. Yes, You Read That Right. Watch Movies And Tv Series. Listen To Music, Let It Consume You. It Will Be Easier If You're Relaxed

Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-cope-with-loneliness-during-coronavirus-4799661

@SoulfullyAButterfly
Coping with loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic
WAYS TO DEAL WITH PANDEMIC LONELINESS
The pandemic has brought a lot of changes in everyone’s lives. It has adversely affected the mental health of people of all ages. The most common issues reported by people during the COVID-19 pandemic include anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, to name a few. According to https://www.statista.com/statistics/1222815/loneliness-among-adults-by-country/, about 33% of adults experienced feelings of loneliness worldwide. It is natural to experience loneliness during these times. One thing to remember is that such feelings are temporary and blaming oneself for having such feelings can produce counter effects. There are a lot of ways to deal with loneliness which can help us in handling the pandemic and its effects. If you are staying with your parents, spouse, or kids, try taking out some time for them. You can engage in fun and relaxing activities such as playing board games, cooking together, etc. Attending family events virtually and taking out time to chat on weekends via apps can help in strengthening connections. Try to check upon your old friends and share your feelings with them. Engage in doing those things which make you happy. It is one of the many ways through which we can stay connected to our inner selves. Listening to podcasts, audiobooks, soothing songs, can help relax your mind and your body. You are not alone in this. Joining some online communities or peer support groups such as 7cups can give you a platform to express your feelings.
Sources: https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/coronavirus/coping-with-loneliness-during-coronavirus/

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Coping with loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Volunteer to help others

As we are aware that loneliness can affect anyone, we also know that anyone can volunteer. COVID-19 has led to us not being able to spend enough time with our family and friends especially if we have been isolating at home. However, looking after others as well as ourselves can help us tackle loneliness. Volunteering is a great way to connect with others and to a find a purpose during the Pandemic. Not only would these connections be a protection against loneliness, but also meaningful, rewarding and a boost to your mental wellbeing. They will help you build up your sense of worth as well as help others going through the same emotions as you. 7 Cups offers a wonderful opportunity to provide free support to people who are experiencing emotional distress and also finding ways to cope with loneliness during this difficult period. Join 7 Cups today at https://www.7cups.com and become a trained active listener. Also, don’t forget, you can always log onto a member account and interact with listeners and therapists.

Sources:

https://www.redcross.org.uk/stories/disasters-and-emergencies/uk/coronavirus-six-facts-about-loneliness

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

@SoulfullyAButterfly

"Coping with Loneliness During the Covid-19 Pandemic"

Three Ways To Beat the Effects of Covid-19

This pandemic struck the world like a curveball-fast and unexpected. In March 2020 our lives changed completely. Stuck at home, not being able to see friends or go to church, spend the vacation in different countries, or being able to go outside without a mask. We have endured all of this over the past year and a half. For a fact, this pandemic has affected us whether it was financially, physically, or mentally. Three ways to beat the effects of loneliness during the pandemic are: Staying Active, Connecting with Others, and Doing things that bring you comfort.

1. Staying Active

"The COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on physical activity. Those who reduced their level of physical activity had the highest levels of mood disorders." (BMC Public Health) In order to change this impact, we must continue to stay active. This includes exercising at home, doing housework, or even going outside for walks. Staying active produces endorphins, which are hormones that make us feel good.

2. Connecting With Others

During this pandemic, connecting with others can be very hard. Some creative ways that you can connect with others are staying in touch through social media like Facebook, WhatsApp, etc. Planning games and movie nights over Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet can also provide that feeling of warmth and connectivity with your friends. In addition, you can also combat the feeling of loneliness by signing up for online forums and groups you are interested in.

3. Doing Things that Bring You Comfort

When you find ways to give yourself comfort during the times you may be feeling lonely, this can help to improve your mental health. Listening to your favorite meal, cooking your famous dish, lighting candles, taking a warm shower, watching your favorite movie/tv-series, spending time in nature, or volunteering are just some things that can bring you comfort. In conclusion, find what brings YOU comfort and happiness and spend time doing it.

https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-10470-z

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Staying connected with loved ones during lockdown

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the entire world by surprise last year, we have all been going through periods of government-mandated lockdowns. Lockdowns can be difficult to deal with, putting both a financial strain on many households as well as making it difficult for people to interact with each other. Because everyone has to stay at home all the time now and social distance while outside, many in-person social occasions have become infeasible, leading many people to feel lonely. In fact, according to the Harvard Gazette, a recent study found that 36 percent of Americans reported feeling lonely “frequently” or “almost all the time or all the time” during the pandemic, compared to only 22 percent of Americans prior to the pandemic. This figure is even higher for young adults aged 18 to 25, 61% of whom reported feeling severe loneliness during the pandemic.

If you’re currently experiencing loneliness, please know that you are not alone. This article will cover science-backed methods that you can try to increase your connections with your loved ones during this time.

References:
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/02/young-adults-teens-loneliness-mental-health-coronavirus-covid-pandemic/

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Activties to do to during the pandemic

Whether you're social distancing, isolating or in quarantine due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, there are lots of things you can do from the comfort of your own home!

Take part in #ClearYourHeadChallenge

We've put together a whole range of activities and challenges that you can take part in and share your creations on Instagram and TikTok using the hashtag. Take a look at our resource for challenges such as #MakeItScottish, a five minute make up challenge, the keepie uppie challenge and much more - and keep an eye out for some famous faces!

Watch, stream & binge your fave show

There are so many streaming apps available these days we're spoilt for choice on good films or binge-worthy TV shows online.

Learn a new language

If you've got spare time, this could be the perfect opportunity to learn a new language! There are lots of places to learn a language online, including DuoLingo which you can download for free from an app store.

Have you thought about learning Gaelic? Take a look at our dedicated Gaelic resource to help you get started or keep practising your existing Gaelic skills!

Game nights

There are loads of games available - whether it's on a playing board or a video game.

We're definitely excited about building in Minecraft and have our eye on that new Animal Crossing game... or if you're at home with others in the same boat, it might be worth cracking open a board game. Whether its snakes and ladders or chess it's a good way to pass time with others.

If you're curious about gaming but don't necessarily have all the kit or want to play yourself, loads of people stream themselves playing games. You can find hours of gaming content on Twitch or YouTube.

YouTube & online socials

Why not use your time at home to find your next fave content creator?

Or maybe you think yourself as a bit of a social media guru? Now is the time to create your own YouTube or TikTok channel and start something!

Keep the chat online

Keeping in contact with pals without actually being in physical contact is probably the easiest thing to do on this list!

Whether you're a FaceTime fan, prefer DMs or even something old school like a phone call, you can keep up with the latest chat from your friendship group easily.

Keep studying

Teachers might set you some work to do from home, you might be able to access classes online or you might just want to keep learning outside of school, college or uni.

BBC Bitesize has great resources for primary and secondary school students.

Chill with a few chapters

Reading lets you get lost in another world for a bit.

Curling up with a good book sounds like a good plan to us!

Things might be puzzling

Puzzles are another way of keeping your mind active. Crosswords, sudoku, and jigsaws are all great ways to spend time and challenge yourself. You can get special puzzle books as well as find loads of websites and apps.

Do the write thing

Think yourself as an author or just want to write down what’s on your mind? Then writing might be just for you. Poetry is another good way to express yourself and pass the time. Check out our poetry tips.

Music to your ears

If you have an instrument lying about the house why not try to learn how to play it? There are plenty of tutorials online for almost every instrument there is.

Don’t have one? Have a think about trying to sing. It may be embarrassing to start but you’ll quickly improve and gain confidence!

Work it out

Whilst trying to stay home, it might mean not going to the gym or even for walks to the park.

It's great if you have a garden to spend some time in but if you're feeling the burn for exercise, or just looking for a way to keep fit, try following an exercise regime indoors using whatever you have to hand.

Try something new

Why not pick up a new hobby? You could do anything, from learning how to bake, to building AirFix models or even knitting!

There are loads of tutorials on YouTube for pretty much everything - and there are a few things you could probably do with things you have lying around the house.

Spring clean

Why not use this free time to give your home a bit of a clean? You can reorgnise your room or move somethings around to keep things fresh. You might be surprised how rewarding it is!

Cook up a storm

You might already have ingredients lying around at home.

You could try making a new meal or spend your extra time on something that's difficult to prepare.

Fancy a treat? Why not bake some goodies for you and your family to enjoy?

Camp at home

If you’re fortunate enough to have access to a garden why not celebrate the great outdoors and build a tent right outside your door?

Meditate

Take your time and work through any worries that you might have. Use an online guided meditation or yoga course to clear your mind and body of any negative things you might be holding on to.

You can even get your pets involved in yoga!