How To Cope With Loneliness During Social Distancing If You Live Alone
Social distancing is tough on all of us, but people who live alone may be struggling even more right now.
Tami Keehn, a photographer who lives by herself in Saint Petersburg, Florida, said she’s experiencing loneliness and jealousy toward people who have a partner, friends or family to hunker down with during quarantine. At times, she feels “invisible.”
“I am by nature an introvert and a bit of a hermit, so the overall lifestyle shift wasn’t that far off from my normal daily routine,” Keehn told HuffPost. “But now that I’m unable to get in those small doses of in-person interactions and hanging out with friends and family, or getting to enjoy the warmth of a big hug as I greet my clients, I’m realizing how very important human touch and in-person interaction were for me to feel connected and like I belonged to a ‘tribe’ of some sort.”
To cope, she’s been taking walks near the ocean for a dose of sunshine and exercise and does virtual video happy hour dates with friends. These things help, but it’s still been tough. If you know someone who’s living alone, remember to check in on them, Keehn said.
“You might be envious that they aren’t having to deal with a lack of personal space and quiet time, but many of us are equally as jealous that you have someone to hug or a shoulder to cry on during this trying time,” Keehn said. “We need to be there to support each other. So taking a moment to send a little love our way can make all the difference.”
Being physically isolated from our loved ones for an extended period of time is something most of us have never experienced before. Though uncomfortable, the distress you may be feeling is a normal response to the situation. It doesn’t mean that there’s anything “wrong” with you.
“Just like hunger signals us to eat and thirst signals us to drink water, loneliness is thought to be a biological drive that motivates us to reconnect,” said Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a p
