- Hey, Psych2Goers.
American novelist Thomas Wolf once said,
"Loneliness is and always
has been the central and inevitable
experience of every man."
And most of us would probably agree
because we've all felt loneliness
at some point in our lives.
So if you are struggling right now
with a deep loneliness in life
then you'll probably relate to these seven telltale signs.
Number one, you feel numb all the time.
Lately, whatever emotions you used to feel a lot,
be it happiness, sadness, excitement, interest
or amusement, just don't seem to be there anymore.
And nothing you do to cheer yourself
up or make yourself feel something,
again, seems to be working.
Most days, you just feel empty, lost and confused.
You're numb and emotionally detached
because you're struggling with a deep sense
of loneliness that you don't know how to deal with.
Number two, you can't control your emotions.
On the rare instances,
when you do manage to feel something again,
it's not much better
because you can't seem to control your emotions.
Now you get upset over the tiniest inconvenience
and suddenly don't know how to stop crying
or lash out at the people around you for no apparent reason.
Unable to control your anger.
Psychologists call this emotional volatility.
And it's very common in people who suffer from depression
severe anxiety and loneliness.
Number three, you feel
like you are too different from other people.
Even around your closest friends and family,
you still feel like an outsider.
Like nobody really knows or understands you.
You struggle to connect
with others and you feel you don't belong.
This is because all too often
our loneliness can drive a wedge between us
and everyone around us, blinding us from their warmth
friendship and compassion until all we're left
with is this nagging fear that we're too different
for anyone to ever accept us for who we really are.
Number four, you question the meaning and purpose of life.
Some people tend to become more introspective
and philosophical when they feel lonely.
So if you found yourself questioning the meaning and purpose
of life lately, this might be the reason why.
Sometimes we might try to confront our loneliness head
on and dive deeper into our own psyche to get
to the root of it all.
Regardless of whatever it is
you might find there in your innermost thoughts, fears
and desires, your more than likely to come
out on the other side, a wiser more insightful person
with a new perspective on life.
Number five, you are always exhausted.
Another warning sign that you might already
be feeling a deep loneliness without even realizing it
is if you find yourself always feeling exhausted.
It's like all of a sudden, even the simplest tasks
like returning a phone call,
going out to buy groceries
or cooking yourself a meal seem too overwhelming
and tiring to do.
You tread your feet all day long
putting things off for as long as you can,
only to collapse on your bed exhausted
and completely spent every night,
which brings us to our next point.
Number six, you waste your time doing nothing,
mindlessly scrolling through social media, spending hours
playing video games, watching shows you don't even like,
gossiping, gambling, partying, drinking
overeating, oversleeping, overspending.
All your time has been consumed with these activities.
And sure they might be fun and even relaxing in moderation,
but indulging in them too much will only
leave you feeling lonelier than ever.
Why?
Because while all these things might seem
like a good way to distract us
from our loneliness and make us feel good about ourselves,
at the end of the day, it'll only remind us
that we don't feel like we're doing anything worthwhile
with ourselves or our lives.
And number seven, you stop taking care of yourself.
Finally, but perhaps most importantly
the moment you start to neglect your own needs
and stop taking care of yourself is a trouble sign
that your mental health is taking a turn for the worst.
Have you stopped brushing your teeth
or combining your hair lately?
Do you no longer do the things you used to enjoy
like going out with friends or indulging in hobbies?
Do you go for days without taking a shower
or constantly leave your room in a mess?
All of these things are common side effects
when we struggle with a deep sense of loneliness
in our lives.
We feel helpless and unfulfilled
starved of meaning, connection, intimacy and purpose.
So we just stop taking care
of ourselves altogether because we feel like it's pointless.
So do you relate to any of the things we've mentioned here?
Have you personally experienced a deep sense of loneliness?
If you are struggling with your mental health
the best thing you can do for yourself is seek help
and reach out to a mental healthcare professional today.
Just the fact that you're aware
that there is something missing in your life shows
that you have a good idea of who you are and what you want,
even if you can't clearly define it just yet.
Take this as a call to action
to start soul searching and rediscover
what makes life meaningful for you?
What's your experience with loneliness?
Talk about it in the comments below.
Don't forget to leave a like and share this video
with a friend who may find some insight in it too.
As usual, all references used are added
in the description below.
See you next time.
Take care.
(inspirational music)