Feeling lonely is hard, but there is a remedy for loneliness that truly works. This remedy is one that is often ignored but is one of the most successful for combating loneliness. In it, you will find peace and happiness in your life, and it can also help you gain meaningful relationships.
Loneliness doesn’t mean you have no one in your life. Instead, it means that even with people around you, you feel lonely and disconnected. It means that you lack a deep connection with another person, not that you lack having people in your life.
The often-ignored remedy for loneliness is simple. You have to change your maladaptive behavior patterns, meaning you have to change your way of thinking about things. Maladaptive behavior will be explained in further detail below, but it’s important to explain loneliness and its effect a little more.
When you are lonely, it will eventually lead to you feeling sad, anxious, and overwhelmed. It can also cause binge drinking or eating and a sense of hopelessness. Millions of people experience this feeling, and for some, it will pass more easily than for others.
The Remedy for Loneliness That Most People Don’t Know
Changing Maladaptive Behavior
While you have likely heard of many remedies for loneliness, there are a few that truly work and often get ignored. One of these remedies that are often ignored is changing your maladaptive behavior.
Maladaptive behavior is any behavior that stops you from being able to adjust or change when necessary. This means that during difficult or challenging times, you struggle to or are unable to adapt to it. Irrational thinking concepts also characterize maladaptive behavior.
Research shows that changing this behavior is more effective than any other remedy for loneliness. It also allows for long-term healing and feelings of positivity. It will give you more hope for the future, increased self-esteem, and contentedness during solitary times.
When you notice that your thinking is causing your loneliness, you can decide to change them. If you can change those thoughts to something more positive and productive, you’ll immediately feel better. While it may seem like a difficult process, it will quickly become a habit, and you won’t have to think about it so much.
The Reason Changing Maladaptive Behavior is So Effective
The reason changing maladaptive behavior is a remedy for loneliness is a simple one. This type of behavior makes you look for signs of rejection and hostility in all situations. When you do this, it causes negative thoughts about social situations and can cause you to clam up when around others.
You will always look for the negative parts of your encounters rather than the positive ones. It results in always thinking the worst and will leave you having negative thoughts about future encounters.
If you notice that you struggle with maladaptive behavior, you can change it, however. Start consciously checking your thoughts to see if you are negative. If you find that you are fixating on what you think went wrong, you have to change your thought process.
You can think about the parts of the encounter that went well. Or, you could remind yourself that you may have made a good impression and everything went well. By reminding yourself that you don’t know for sure that the impression was bad, you open possibilities for positivity.
When you can look at it this way, you’ll realize that the worst-case scenario won’t always happen. It’ll help you be less lonely, as you won’t be so negative toward social situations. You will also see that the behavior or demeanor of others doesn’t always have something to do with you.
Then, once you have learned to change your maladaptive thinking, you’ll be more positive. Social situations will become positive times rather than negative ones, and you’ll become more confident. In turn, you’ll become less lonely as you form positive, meaningful relationships.
Maladaptive behavior has more to do with chronic loneliness than you may realize. It becomes a habit, causing you to be lonely everywhere you go. As you think these negative thoughts, you’ll isolate yourself from others and miss out on forming new relationships.
Part of changing your maladaptive behavior also involves learning to love the time spent alone. Once you learn to change that thought process, you’ll begin to see the good in all situations. This will allow you to feel comfortable with being on your own, and you’ll be able to heal yourself.
Accept It, Embrace It, and Learn to Heal Yourself
You can do this by filling your life with things that make you happy and make you feel complete. This could be hobbies such as reading, baking, or gardening. By doing this, you are choosing to embrace yourself, and that will remedy the loneliness.
You can also embrace the loneliness and heal yourself of the negative connotation by setting goals. By giving yourself something to work toward, you’ll fill your life with positive meaning and purpose.
Using this method as a remedy for loneliness will make you love yourself. Then, you will enjoy the solitary lifestyle, and you won’t mind spending it by yourself. It’ll be a joy rather than a burden.
If you can learn to enjoy your time and fill it with fulfilling things, you’ll quickly stop being lonely. Learn to fulfill yourself and stop waiting for someone else to come along and do it for you.
You have to stop thinking it’s bad to be on your own. When you can learn to enjoy being alone and stop thinking that no one enjoys your company, you’ll feel better. Plus, you’ll find yourself connecting with more people on a deeper level, too.
What Can Happen If You Don’t Remedy the Loneliness
If you don’t get a handle on the loneliness you’re feeling, it can be incredibly detrimental. As mentioned before, it can cause feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and anxiety. There is more to it than that, however.
Loneliness can lead to many emotional problems as well as social and health problems. It’s important to learn an effective remedy for loneliness so that you don’t experience these issues.
Physical Health Problems
Poor Self-Care Habits
Oftentimes, when loneliness has lingered for a while, it can hinder your self-care. Your diet will become unhealthy, your hygiene could plummet, and you will likely not exercise enough. These issues usually stem from a lack of motivation that is caused by feelings of loneliness.
Increased Risk of Heart Disease
Another health problem that can occur is heart disease. Research shows that being lonely increases the chances that you will suffer from heart disease of some kind. This is because lonely people don’t handle stress as well, plus, poor diet and lack of exercise contribute.
Weakened Immune System and Increased Inflammation
Loneliness can lead to a weakened immune system and increased inflammation. You will be less able to fight off illnesses, which will cause you to be sick more often. The increase in inflammation can contribute to other health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and other conditions.
Mental Health Problems
Depression
With persisting feelings of loneliness, you will likely develop depression. Hormones in your brain that are associated with depression and stress become active when you feel lonely. The more of these hormones that are released, the more severe your depression will be.
Suicide Risk Increases
Depression associated with loneliness only gets worse if the loneliness isn’t eased or cured. Because of this, those who are lonely tend to commit suicide more often than those who aren’t. For this reason alone, you must find a remedy for loneliness that works.
Trouble Sleeping
Even if you can fall asleep, your sleep quality will be lessened. This can hinder both your mental and physical health, but it will first affect your mental health. Lonely people will also be more likely to wake up during the night and have trouble falling back asleep.
Final Thoughts on The Remedy for Loneliness That Most People Ignore
This remedy for loneliness that most people often ignore is one that will truly work. Changing your maladaptive behaviors will change your life for the better. It will help you stop feeling so lonely, and you’ll be able to accept the loneliness and embrace it.
From there, you will be able to heal yourself without waiting for someone else to do it for you. Loneliness is more about yourself than you may initially realize. Once you begin addressing your thoughts and behaviors, you’ll notice a quick change in your life.
You shouldn’t go through life feeling this way. It isn’t good for your physical or mental health and can have serious consequences if it isn’t addressed. Make sure to get it taken care of so you can start feeling better and living a more fulfilling life.
