For Some, 'Tis the Season for Loneliness. Experts Offer Tips to Stay Connected

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 24, 2024.

SUNDAY, Nov. 24, 2024 -- For many, the holidays are a time when you connect with others and share time with loved ones. But for some, the holidays are a painful exercise in loneliness.

While a Northwestern Medicine study published last spring found loneliness is more prevalent in both younger and older adults, those feelings intensify around the holidays, said Eileen Graham, who co-authored that study.

And those feelings are most pronounced for the oldest.

“What was striking was how consistent the uptick in loneliness is in older adulthood,” Graham noted when the study was published. “There’s a wealth of evidence that loneliness is related to poorer health, so we wanted to better understand who is lonely and why people are becoming lonelier as they age out of midlife so we can hopefully start finding ways to mitigate it.”

One way to ease loneliness for these folks is to invite them into your home.

“Young adults who are living in unfamiliar cities and setting up new social networks will often find ways to celebrate with Friendsgivings because they might not be coming home for the holidays,” said Graham, an associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Others include older adults who have lost friends or spouses and, finally, people who have fewer resources.”

How else can folks deal with those heightened feelings of isolation during the holidays?

“When one feels lonely on a regular basis, depression and other difficult emotions can arise. I recommend that people try these four things,” said Michele Kerulis, an associate professor of counseling with the Family Institute at Northwestern:

  • Find community: If you feel lonely, make real-life connections within your community. This might be a group fitness class, volunteering, a church service or being among friends.

  • Exercise: Working out has known physical and mental health benefits, including the release of feel-good neurotransmitters, which can provide temporary relief from unpleasant emotions.

  • Practice self-care: Paying attention to your well-being and spending time engaging in activities that help you feel well can decrease feelings of loneliness.

  • Seek counseling: A mental health counselor can help you analyze why you feel lonely and help you find long-term solutions to address that feeling.

    • SOURCE: Northwestern University, news release, Nov. 20, 2024

    Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2024-11-25 00:00

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords