Written by: Ciarra Nelson
That famous 1977 classic song “What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas,” by the Emotions rings true for many, especially during the holidays.
Nearly 1 in 4 adults across the world have reported feeling very or fairly lonely according to a new Meta-Gallup survey. For black women, more than 45 percent feel persistently lonely, according to statistics. So while some people are kissing under a mistletoe, others are wishing they just had someone in their presence or someone to just spend time with.
In a social-media-driven world that applauds people, especially women for celebrating independence, the new survey, taken across 142 countries, found 24 percent of people age 15 and older self-reported feeling very or fairly lonely in response to the question, “How lonely do you feel?”
The survey also found that the rates of loneliness were highest in young adults with 27 percent of young adults ages 19 to 29 reporting feeling very or fairly lonely. The lowest rates were found in older adults. Only 17% of people aged 65 and older reported feeling lonely. Over half of adults by age 45 and older reported not feeling lonely at all, while the majority of those younger than 45 answered that they felt at least a little lonely, if not very or fairly lonely.
Young adults who are in a transitional stage of becoming an adult experience more uncertainty in many areas of life, including “a tumultuous love life, uncertainty about a professional path, and in the process of separating from their parents.” Young adults are therefore more likely to experience more loneliness than that of older adults who have already accumulated “wisdom, friends, a family which may be supportive, and a community which cares for them.
Although many people (women) may feel lonely, being alone does not necessarily mean loneliness. Some even find that being alone could be refreshing, while others don’t like to be alone at all.
The survey also pointed to a December 2020 report from the World Health Organization and a May advisory from the US Surgeon General that illuminate the dangers of loneliness, including a negative impact on mental and physical health that could even lead to early mortality.
Overall the survey says in a short sum of words that there is a loneliness epidemic.
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So how do we combat loneliness? This is the glaring question that needs more than a simple answer. There must be a real-time solution and something we can do. Here are some tips that could most likely work for anyone:
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Schedule a self-date (maybe a trip to your favorite store, or visit a local museum, try to visualize being alone as something positive
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Create a support wall (cover your wall, mirror, etc with positive affirmations, photos, and images that make you feel happy
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Connect with people of similar interest
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Admit that you are lonely (let friends and family know and or church members)
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Don’t be ashamed (studies show we all get a little lonely sometimes)
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Adopt a furry friend (studies show pets can lower our blood pressure, heart rate, and levels of anxiety, stress and loneliness)
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Get Help (connect with a therapist/seek help
Overall loneliness is not something foreign to anyone, however, don’t just sit in the slumps, get up, and do something about it. And remember You are worth it and YOU are not alone.
Have you experienced loneliness during the holidays? Share in the comments below how you beat the holiday blues?
