Under Construction - MHWA Retreat

Have you ever experienced loneliness for a prolonged period of time? When was it and what was the cause?
Yes I've been lonely before- for a prolonged period, not really. Sometimes it's just feelings when I'm going to bed, like "oh I wish I could talk to X or Y today, but I haven't seen them in a while"

Why do you think there is more loneliness among those younger than 25 vs. those older than 65?
I read the supplemental UCB article on the causes of loneliness throughout the years (linked on the bottom of your article) and the Berkeley peeps say that for those younger than 25, it's a matter of quantity, vs quality, until you're about 30. So, the more friends you have, the less likely you'd be lonely.
As an introvert who falls into this "under 25" category, I'd have to say it's quality over quantity, but hey, I'm not part of the statistic for a reason.

The article mentions loneliness vs. introversion. What is the difference between the two in your experience? Think about how you’d define each one.

Introversion means you don't mind being alone. You can socialize with people, but that drains your batteries and you need time alone to recharge batteries. Loneliness on the other hand, is when you're alone, and you want to be with people, but that doesn't seem to be an option.

The article also mentions that social media could be partially to blame. Do you agree or disagree with this? Why?
Yes and no. I've read somewhere that social media can cause negative feelings (I don't remember if it was loneliness, per se) if you're not interacting with it. So if you're just scrolling through Instagram, stalking people, not "liking" or commenting on stuff, then that can make you feel more isolated. BUT if you're actively engaged with it- liking, sharing, commenting, etc, that can make people feel more connected. So I guess it boils down to how you use social media.

What are some other things that might be causing loneliness in young adults?
Distance might be a factor for sure. I mean Sis called me one day in tears saying that she was just feeling homesick for Australia. We talked about 5-10 minutes and she was feeling better, but yeah, distance- not being able to do anything about your situation, and seeing what others are doing without you can make you feel left out.

What do you think someone can do to help with loneliness?
Make friends? I know it sounds insensitive, but yeah... going out with people can definitely help decrease feelings of being lonely I'd imagine. And then when you're going out with your friend, don't be those people who are together but on their phone and doing totally separate things, because there's really no point in that, is there? You're not getting that quality interaction time with the other person that could help decrease the lonely feelings

** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **


Think you can write for teens? Prove it!
Check out "Invalid Item"