6) Ensuring Best Writing Practices

COPING WITH LONELINESS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC :

The Role My Extended Family Played.

I am a full-time academic. The almost 2 years of work from home was a new and interesting challenge but brought with it its share of loneliness and claustrophobic feeling. But since I live in an extended family it was so comforting to spend quality time with them, particularly my father who passed away during the first wave.

Hence what could have been devastatingly lonely worked out so full of fun and togetherness.

👍👌👍

Eagerly waiting for your response. Feed back.

Thanks

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

How to handle the day to day stress while in qaurentine with your children.

While in isolation in qaurentine, emotions and anxiety are running high for all family members. Sometimes our kids can get fussy more than usual, or say they are bored more than average. Theres a way to cure this stress and anxiety without wanting to rip your hair out moms and dads! A few tips include but not limited to are as follows. Try to get adequate sleep and stay on the same routine sleep schedule you would if you were going to work or school. This could help less anxiety in the kids mental well being who are very structured oriented. Reduce tv, social media, or screen time. Sitting for long periods of time can disrupt our brain schedule, we want to make sure we are still staying active somehow and not becoming couch potatos, try a fun game walking around the house a few times together(if allows) or even some yoga. Fun for all ages ! The fear of unknown can create stress for the children. Make sure you are giving them lots of love(such as loving touches, hugs, human contact) as they can not be in the outside world with there friends, which brings me too ZOOM. If comfortable, set up a weekly zoom with there friends where they can chat and be silly as socialization. Normalization is the biggest thing for you and your family, making the best of it and keeping a positive attitude through it all even though it can get hard sometimes, will keep things in motion for you all. Good luck!

@magicalocean594

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Feeling Less Lonely While Alone

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a daunting process to say the least for everyone around the globe. One of the most challenging adjustments for most have been dealing with quarantine mandates and being unable to gather and socialize as we once could. Coping with feelings of loneliness during this pandemic is completely valid during these adjustments. Popular YouTuber and best selling author Noah Elkrief once mentioned, "If being alone creates the feeling of loneliness, then you would feel forced to feel lonely in every single moment you are alone". Is that true? In some moments alone you are enjoying yourself whether you're drawing, listening to music, eating your favorite food or watching your favorite TV show. In some moments, you do not feel lonely when you are alone. That means being alone can't cause loneliness, it has to be something else. That "something else" is your thoughts. When distracted from your thoughts you feel fine, until a thought pops up and tell you if you had friends, a romantic partner etc. you wouldn't be lonely. This shows that loneliness is not caused by being alone, but by our thoughts.

Check out this video here, including more insight from Noah Elkrief! Here, Noah provides guidance on how to deal with loneliness and how to never feel lonely again; This will serve helpful especially during the pandemic 💙

@SoufullyAButterfly

REDUCING LONELINESS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. Loneliness is also described as social pain—a psychological mechanism which motivates individuals to seek social connections.

It is a state of mind that can lead to depression which is why we have to try as much as possible to reduce it.

There are so many people we are surrounded by that are going through a state of loneliness which is why we have to try as much as possible to help the people around us….. empathy, compassion and understanding are some important things we have to demonstrate.

Statistically the rate of loneliness has been increased to the pandemic. https://www.ons.gov.uk,peoplepopulationandcommunity,wellbeing,bulletins,coronavirusandlonelinessgreatbritain,3aprilto3may2020

What can you do if you feel lonely during the pandemic?

Explore ways to spend time together : Many of us have withdrawn ourselves from our loved ones and family due to the pandemic whilst living in isolation but rather this is the perfect time to connect and bond with yourselves by doing the things you love and communicating with each other to reduce the anxiety that might come as a result of loneliness. You can also try to reach out to your friends and join a group chat to talk about anything that makes you happy.

Try to share your feelings – but do not compare : Being able to share your feelings and thoughts with others can help reduce loneliness and hearing a familiar voice, because you have to remember you're not alone. Sometimes social media tends not to help an individual at a particular situation depending on the content he/she views so try not to compare yourself to what you see out there.

Do more things you enjoy : We all have our various preferences, try to participate in what you love doing that makes you feel relaxed and reduces thinking. You can try journaling ,listening to podcasts, taking a walk or cycling, painting, drawing, binging your favourite shows, doing some chores , dancing and so many other things. But do what you love.

By learning something new and staying busy : This is a good time to do what you have always wanted to do but couldn't do, maybe due to time or stress. It may be learning a new language, cooking , learning a musical instrument , DIY's and so much more. Just do what you love and find comfort .

Volunteer to help others : We all have what we're passionate about…someone out there needs your help. You can use your skill or knowledge to help people . Try to get involved in as many activities as possible that you know can help people and vice versa but try not to overwork yourself.

Join an online community : Always remember you're not alone. If you're struggling with loneliness or any mental health issues you can join communities that are centered in helping people overcome situations that you feel unable to talk about

Communities like https://www.7cups.com,home,?cr=header

are free anonymous chat platforms that help you connect with like minded people and experts in the field of mental health who are ready to support and guide you through your journey

References

https://en.m.wikipedia.org,wiki,Loneliness

https://www.ons.gov.uk,peoplepopulationandcommunity,wellbeing,bulletins,coronavirusandlonelinessgreatbritain,3aprilto3may2020

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

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID 19 Pandemic

The Covid 19 Pandemic has been a very stressful and emotional time for people all over the world. During the height of the pandemic in the summer of 2020 I found coping extremely difficult so I began to participate in online classes and support groups via Zoom. While I found it frustrating to always be on camera and had a difficult time adjusting to technology early on, the experience proved to be extremely rewarding. I have not only learned new skills by attending workshops covering topics such as leadership, teamwork, and advocacy, I have also been able to build my network globally. This has opened up many opportunities to collaborate and work on projects which will open any doors in my career.

You’re not alone– 7cups is there for you

Covid has us locked in our houses. Many are away from their family and friends. How many of us miss those unforeseen and accidental encounters in cafes and parks. Lockdown accompanied by isolation of Covid infected or those suspected of infection has put a heavy toll on people's mental health, leading to the feeling of loneliness. Loneliness is a risk factor for many mental disorders like depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, chronic stress, insomnia or even late-life dementia (Wilson et al., 2007). It is in such times that a conversation with someone can become life saviour.

However, we can feel lucky about the fact that we live in a digital age and albeit it doesn't come close to face-to-face interaction, but it can provide some solace to agitated and lonely people by connecting them to their family or others like them.

In this regard I’d like to highlight the features of 7 cups and the commendable work this platform has been doing for those who feel lonely or other issues stemming from this feeling. 7cups provide facility of one-on-one interaction with a trained listener, forums for a wide array of topics and issues, and group chats in case one needs community support. It also has the facility to connect one to an expert. There is a reason why it’s been called a “caring revolution”.

We are not alone in this. We need to remember that. We need to be there for one another.

References: {{Wilson, R. S., Krueger, K. R., Arnold, S. E., Schneider, J. A., Kelly, J. F., Barnes, L. L., . . .Bennett, D. A. (2007). Loneliness and risk of Alzheimer disease. Archives of General Psychiatry, 64(2), 234–240.}}

{{https://www.voicesofyouth.org/blog/7-cups-caring-revolution}}

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Introduction

Have you been feeling lonely since the start of the coronavirus pandemic? You’re certainly not alone if you answered “yes.”

According to the a charity based in the United Kingdom, Campaign to End Loneliness, the current COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in the amount of people experiencing chronic loneliness. And this isn’t an isolated finding, with the American Psychological Association claiming that during the pandemic there has been a global increase in levels of loneliness.

With an abundance of medical evidence demonstrating that loneliness has serious consequences for our health, it is no surprise that people are searching for ways to combat their own loneliness and support others struggling with the same issue. Keep reading to find out what experts recommend and where you can seek support if you are one of the millions of people struggling with feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Sources:

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-in-your-body-when-youre-lonely/

https://www.insider.com/effects-loneliness-health-2018-6

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159102000739

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Trajectory of Loneliness

During the coronavirus pandemic, a study was conducted by a group of psychologists and published in the American Psychologist. This study aimed to track the trajectory of loneliness, and hypothesized the concern that loneliness would increase during lockdown periods. However, according to the study’s findings:

“Contrary to expectations, there were no significant mean-level changes in loneliness across the three assessments (d = .04, p > .05). In fact, respondents perceived increased support from others over the follow-up period (d = .19, p < .01). Older adults reported less loneliness overall compared to younger age groups but had an increase in loneliness during the acute phase of the outbreak (d = .14, p < .05). Their loneliness, however, leveled off after the issuance of stay-at-home orders.” (Luchetti, M., Lee, J. H., Aschwanden, D., Sesker, A., Strickhouser, J. E., Terracciano, A., & Sutin, A. R. (2020). The trajectory of loneliness in response to COVID-19. American Psychologist, 75(7), 897.)

It was seen through this study that the average scale of loneliness went down over time as they received support from others during lockdown, despite some detrimental impacts on vulnerable individuals. Even with social distancing requirements being implemented, there was a sense of togetherness involved that aided in combating the general feelings of loneliness that most participants experienced.

@SoulfullyAButterfly

My response to the article topic "Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic":

A military wife's perspective: Facing the loneliness of the pandemic

Military life is more than a job. It's a lifestyle. From my perspective, it can be exhilarating and fulfilling but also challenging and isolating. As a military spouse, or a military parent, finding the support, you need to handle the loneliness and stress can be difficult. A popular misconception is that military family members are more resilient to challenges than their civilian counterparts. The fact of the matter is, they aren't. Military spouse depression rates mirrored the national average and spiked even higher during the pandemic. The military spouse may have the capacity to struggle with feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks because they are typically so busy with taking care of the children, managing the household, and keeping a job that time for self-care isn't often part of the schedule.

What can you do to manage these feelings?

Thankfully, many resources are available to help you cope—from others who have been through what you are experiencing to tools that can help plan for any unknowns or unexpected events and online communities such as www.7cups.com. These resources can help you learn how to deal with uncertainty, build a strong support network, and adapt wherever necessary. Keep in mind that you are not alone. You have got this! 😊

Sources:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/smi.3155

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/mothers-day-2021-how-being-a-military-spouse-prepared-me-for-the-pandemic/

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Coping with Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Corona Pandemic affected our lives in most unexpected way and changed our ways of living. In some ways it brought us closer and in other, it created loneliness as well. But we need to look at the bright side of it, we got to spend more time with families due to isolation at home. We got time for ourselves as well.

Although we are learning to deal with this changed way of living, there are established ways to maintain feelings of being connected to others despite having to maintain social distancing. By organizing our activities every single day, we can become more resistant to the onset of feelings of loneliness. Here are few –

1.) Stay connected to your family and friends through online methods. Have virtual get together, play games, have a good talk.

2.) We always think if I have some free time, I will do this and that. Here is your chance, invest time on your hobbies which was in your bucket list since many years.

3.) Have a routine. Wake up on time, exercise, eat healthy, try to maintain balance between work and personal time, sleep properly etc.

4.) Pursue outdoor activities while following the guidance of social distancing.

5.) Keep checking on the physical, mental and emotional well beings of our loved-ones.

6.) Pay attention to psychiatric symptoms. Its very easy to have some mental issues so keep an eye on it and when required seek medical help. Don’t ignore it.

7.) Try to work on your creative side whether its learning to cook or decorating your house. In other words, find something to keep you busy and happy.

It’s a chance to be with yourself. Utilize this time.

If you still feeling lonely and need help. Visit 7Cups for free anonymous emotional support and counselling from trained mental health professionals.