You can deal with your loneliness using these 5 easy steps and feel connected again. Are you feeling lonely? People feel lonely for various reasons, such as a break up with someone special, a divorce, or the loss of a loved one. They may also feel lonely because they moved to a new area and do not know anyone there or have to isolate themselves for medical reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic also created a lot of loneliness due to social distancing and quarantines.

You may identify with some of these reasons or may be experiencing a unique situation not listed here. Whatever the reason, the 5 steps on how to deal with loneliness here can help you overcome your loneliness.

The Core Problem of Loneliness

Loneliness has to do with a lack of intimate connection with people. You may have heard the phrase – you may be in a crowd and still feel lonely. So, loneliness is different from “being alone.” Loneliness is an existential crisis that causes us to desire a deeper connection with others; after all, God created us for relationships.

5 Easy Steps to Overcome Loneliness

1. Reach Out to People

Take the initiative to reach out to people you know. It can be easy to sit around feeding your sadness, but the chances are that if you pick up the phone and call, text, FaceTime, or email people you know, you will feel much better. When you check on how people are doing, show care and concern for them, you begin to create powerful connections with people. Perhaps, they are also feeling lonely, and you can make a difference in their lives as well. The focus needs to be on healthy relationships.

 2. Set Realistic Expectations

Having realistic expectations will help prevent disappointment. Consider reaching out to 10 people, understanding that not everyone will reply to you right away. Just like you, people have busy lives and tasks to accomplish. Additionally, they may have their issues to handle. Therefore, some or many people may not respond to your calls, messages, or emails as quickly as you expect. Be content with those who respond to you and enjoy your time with them. One response is better than none.

3. Be a Positive Person

When people respond to you, be positive and thankful for their response. People prefer to be with people excited about life instead of being negative and complaining. During the conversation, show genuine interest and focus on what is happening in the person’s life. Listen to them attentively and paraphrase important information they share with you. Enjoy the moment with them. By connecting or reconnecting with people and having a genuine interaction with them, there is a possibility that you may get in touch again and even hang out together.

4. Unplug from Social Media and Interact with People You See Daily

Social media has positive and negative effects on people . Relationships on social media can sometimes be very superficial. Superficial relationships are not a good remedy for loneliness, but close and meaningful relationships are.

A powerful action step is to start talking with people you see every day to develop stronger connections with them. These include your neighbors, co-workers, classmates, doctors, small business owners, etc. Of course, this takes time, but as you interact with them, you will begin to grow in your connection with others.

5. Connect with God

You can connect with God through prayer and feel His presence. Remember that Jesus, God in the flesh, called His disciples “friends.” So, if you are a follower of Christ, Jesus is your friend, and He can comfort you. You still need human relationships, but God will help you overcome your loneliness. He will bring new people into your life as you attend church and participate in church events.

Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” In Matthew 28:20, Jesus says, “I am with you always.”

If you are feeling depressed, talk to a counselor to get help on how to deal with loneliness.

Start taking these steps today and watch our video on Loneliness to get motivated and get rid of loneliness.

Elias Moitinho, Ph.D. and Denise Moitinho, Ph.D.