10 Things You Can Do If You’re Lonely

It’s normal to feel lonely sometimes. Many people go through periods of loneliness, and it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with them. If you’re lonely, there are some things you can try that might help.

The Effects of Loneliness

When you’re lonely a lot, it can affect you in many ways.

You might:

• Feel more stressed;
• Sleep, but not feel rested;
• Stop taking good care of your appearance or hygiene;
• Find that your outlook on life has become negative;
• Start showing signs of depression or anxiety; or
• Turn to drugs or alcohol to feel better.

10 Things You Can Do If You’re Lonely

1. Help others.
Volunteering is a great way to form meaningful connections with others and make new friends. It is also a natural way to add some purpose to your life – something a lot of us struggle with when feeling lonely.

2. Reconnect with old friends.
Have you lost touch with a good friend from elementary school? Or maybe a friend from summer camp? See if you can reconnect!

3. Try something new.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to try, but never have? Now is the perfect time! Try auditioning for a school play or a local theater group, join a new team— there are tons of potential new hobbies out there!

4. Figure out if something is missing in your life.
Maybe you have a great group of friends, but wish you had one best friend to go to for everything. Or maybe you have one amazing friend, but miss being part of a group. Knowing what’s missing won’t magically make it appear, but it will make the overwhelming feeling of loneliness seem a bit more manageable and give you something to work toward.

5. Make time for extended family.
If you have cousins or other relatives around your age that are within a reasonable distance, reach out and try to get together.

6. Watch something that makes you laugh.
Put on your favorite funny show or movie—immersing yourself in a world with familiar characters can make you feel less alone.

7. Turn activities you do alone into group activities.
Into gaming? Invite someone over to play with you in person. Do you like to draw? Ask your parents to help you find an art class. Going to a baseball game with your family? See if they can get an extra ticket so you can invite a friend.

8. Spend time with animals.
Hanging out with pets, especially cats and dogs, is a great way to feel less lonely. If you don’t have pets of your own, see if your neighbors or relatives would be willing to let you hang out with theirs.

9. Try an app.
Lyf is an app that helps you reach out to others to chat about things. Q Chat has support groups for LGBTQ youth. NotOK is an app that helps you reach out to contacts that you select to let them know that you are struggling. 7 Cups has trained listeners to provide you with emotional support.

10. Write down 5 things you love about yourself.
Part of the pain of loneliness is that you start to think of yourself negatively. Taking a few minutes to write down the good things you notice about yourself is a simple way to boost your self-esteem.

Excerpted from “Loneliness is Hard (For Kids and Teens)” from Mental Health America. Read the full article online.

If you have taken steps to feel less lonely, but you find you’re still struggling, reach out for help.

For immediate assistance, the following resources are available 24/7: