I feel lonely – what should I do? (5 do’s and 5 don’ts)

I feel lonely – what should I do? (5 do’s and 5 don’ts)

1. Talking about your feelings – to a friend, family member, health professional or counsellor. You could also contact Samaritans, call: 116 123 or email: [email protected] if you need someone to talk to

2. Join a group, club or class – that focuses on something you enjoy; you could ask to go along and just watch first if you’re feeling nervous. Why not take up a new team sport? Even if you are not great at it, there are things you can do (referee or admin)

3. Visit places – where you can just be around other people – for example, a park, the cinema or a cafe

4. Find peer support – where people use their experiences to help each other. Find out more about peer support from Mind

5. Get practical tips and advice to help with loneliness on Every Mind Matters

Other things to do

• Try 6 ways to feel happier – which are simple lifestyle changes to help you feel more in control and able to cope

• Find out how to raise your self-esteem

• Listen to free mental wellbeing audio guides.

5 Don’ts

1. Do not try to do everything at once – set small targets that you can easily achieve

2. Do not focus on the things you cannot change – focus your time and energy into helping yourself feel better

3. Do not to compare yourself to others – on social media you usually only see things people want to share

4. Tell yourself that you’re alone – many people feel lonely at some point in their life and support is available

5. Try not to use alcohol, cigarettes, gambling or drugs – to relieve loneliness; these can all contribute to poor mental health.

Summary