When the world went into lockdown, one thing was predictable amid all of the unpredictability. As we were forced to spend time alone, a lot of people experienced — no surprise here — loneliness. But now that we’re getting back to some normalcy, you would think that side effect would fade. For some, it hasn’t. In fact, many people are still feeling high levels of social isolation and loneliness.
As it turns out, when mental health experts started looking at loneliness as a potential fallout from the pandemic, they found that this problem has been here all along. Pre-COVID, approximately half of American adults were already dealing with loneliness.
So, if you’re feeling social isolation post-COVID — and even if you were feeling it before the pandemic — you’re not alone.
Why social isolation matters
The University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging has tracked people who feel socially isolated for years. In 2018, 27% of the people they polled reported feeling isolated from others at least some of the time. In June 2020, in the thick of the pandemic, that number jumped to 56%. But even in January 2023, it hadn’t returned to pre-2020 numbers. 34% of people — or roughly one in three — still say they feel social isolation.
This matters because feeling isolated increases your risk for premature mortality. In layman’s terms, feeling lonely can make you more likely to die earlier. That’s pretty serious stuff. And in your day-to-day life, loneliness can make you more likely to experience everything from sleep problems and depression to cardiovascular issues and lowered immunity.
Long story short, social isolation isn’t something to brush off. If you or someone you know feels lonely, get proactive. Taking action can mean protecting both mental and physical health against the negative impacts of social isolation.
What to do to combat loneliness
Fighting feelings of isolation means making an effort to connect with others. If you have friends or family you can reach out to, start there. Making a phone call or sending a text might feel daunting. But that first step is often the hardest.
And do you know what’s harder? Staying in your loneliness. Psych yourself up. Plan a reward for yourself after you do it. Find a way to give yourself that push to reach out. Trust us, we understand this is easier said than done for many. That is what makes it important for us to provide some support to help you build the courage to get started in the fight.
What if you don’t have a community you can tap into? We’ve got a few tips to help you find your people:
- Go where people are. Bring a book and hang out in a busy coffee shop, at the park, or by the beach. Just being around people can be a great first step. When you feel ready, try saying hi to the person sitting next to you or making a little small talk with your barista.
- Join a local club. Depending on where you live, there are often local meet-up groups that are oriented based on interests. So whether you’re into hiking, cooking, or getting creative, do some online research to find where you can join a club or community of others who love the same thing. Sites like Facebook and Meetup often give access to these resources.
- Join a volunteer event. If you’re in Ventura County, Surfrider and the Ventura Land Trust are great places to start. Finding something you care about can also mean finding common ground with others. And that can be a great way to build new relationships.
- Share a smile. When you go out into the world, try to radiate warmth and friendliness to the people around you. You never know when someone needs a little kindness. And you never know when that kindness could help you strike up a conversation. Sometimes these simple exchanges boost us in ways we would not imagine.
- Get a pet. This isn’t a decision to take lightly. A pet requires your attention and will likely mean some lifestyle modifications to give them the care they need. But if you’re in a good position to bring a furry friend home, studies show that they can fight loneliness.
These are just a few ideas to get your wheels turning. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed about how to get started, you have another option. Get in touch with a therapist.
At the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center and the West Valley Counseling Center, we’ve got people who can help you come up with ideas and build tools to help you fight social isolation. Even just talking to your therapist might help you feel a little less lonely, so why not give it a try?
