Under Construction - MHWA Retreat

I thought this article was interesting, so I'm gonna respond to my own shit.

I had never really thought about what loneliness actually is. I was trying to think if I've ever experienced it and I realized I don't even know how to identify it. So, I did what everyone does in 2019- looked at it on Wikipedia. And it says:

Loneliness is a complex and usually unpleasant emotional response to isolation. Loneliness typically includes anxious feelings about a lack of connection or communication with other beings, both in the present and extending into the future. As such, loneliness can be felt even when surrounded by other people. The causes of loneliness are varied and include social, mental, emotional, and physical factors.

So, to answer questions now...

Have you ever experienced loneliness for a prolonged period of time? When was it and what was the cause?
I honestly don't think I've ever experienced this for any prolonged period of time. The only time I feel isolated in this way is when I'm having derealization/depersonalization. I feel lonely then because, even when I'm around people, it feels like there's a glass barrier between us. The longest bout of DPDR I've had was actually earlier this year. It lasted for over a month and it was pretty awful.

Why do you think there is more loneliness among those younger than 25 vs. those older than 65?
I actually have no idea. I would think that people over 65 or certainly over, say 75, would be losing their life partners or fretting about that which would cause immense loneliness, I'd think. I'm only in my 20s so the only thing I can think of is that older people are more wise and more accepting of the ups and downs of life. Maybe they know how to handle those feelings of aloneness better and make more of each moment?

The article mentions loneliness vs. introversion. What is the difference between the two in your experience? Think about how you’d define each one.
I think the biggest difference is that introverted people don't care when they're alone, right? I have no idea though. I'm still trying to recognize what loneliness feels like. Like, for me, I'm introverted and I don't care at all if I'm inside isolated for a week (like I've been most of this week). It doesn't make me feel sad or like I'm missing out or anything. Maybe for an extroverted person, they would feel differently? Maybe we have an extroverted person around who can answer that better.

The article also mentions that social media could be partially to blame. Do you agree or disagree with this? Why?
I totally agree with this. I don't get into social media, but the amount of times I've heard a friend feeling totally dejected because they didn't get enough likes on their instagram picture is, like, absurd. I think that there's a lot of fakeness inherently in social media and when someone tries to compete with the fakeness in a genuine way, they start feeling as though they're lacking in some way or something is wrong with them. I've told a lot of my friends to just ditch the social media because it's clearly completely draining their positive energy and well-being.

What are some other things that might be causing loneliness in young adults?
I think a lot of young adults are still a bit lost and trying to find their place in the world. A lot of them don't have life partners yet and I think it's easy to become detached or feel lonely when you don't have that special person who puts you above everyone else in their life. There are a lot of punches to roll with throughout young adulthood... college, moving out, paying bills, getting loans, etc... Things that young adults aren't accustomed to yet and when there isn't a strong support system there, I think they probably tend to feel quite lonely.

What do you think someone can do to help with loneliness?
Besides nixing the social media? I think maybe going out and seeing people when you can might help some. I know there have been times when I've turned down invitations because of my mental state, but then I'm just left at home dwelling on it more. Also just recognizing that so many other people are in the same boat as you and feeling the same way. Sometimes I get super down because it's like no one can relate to what I'm saying, so I might read about other people's experiences with my mental health disorders to realize that what I'm experiencing isn't unique or that strange at all.

Best,

Charlie


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