Loneliness During the Pandemic: A Different Kind of Battle

The Pandemic Arsenal

As we’re going into mid-October, things look very gray from where most people are likely spending their time: home. Yes… home has become for many a place where slow self-destruction occurs. The ongoing battle with COVID-19 doesn’t seem to be getting any better. It seems like it’s going to last a long time…

In fact, it’s enough to make anyone go to the doctor’s… Welcome to the 2020 mental health pandemic. While not-so-talked about and definitely below the economic aspect and the medical disaster, with more than 1 million deaths, and counting… No, the mental health pandemic ties in with the economic and medical aspect. And indeed, the coronavirus affects the nervous system, which further poses a huge risk to our sanity.

Social Distancing and Loneliness

Loneliness was present even before the pandemic. Nowadays, it’s more dangerous than ever before. Come to think of it, we are in an actual depression, and we all know from previous crises that there’s a reason hard economic times are called “depressions”.

There are less opportunities to go out, travel, attend events or generally be social. Ever since social distancing became a necessity, socializing itself has become an act that should be undertaken responsibly.

Loneliness can cause obesity, cardiovascular disease and insomnia, among other things. The lonelier one gets, the harder it becomes to socialize, thus exacerbating those feelings.  Loneliness also causes a reduction in mental acuity and increase in social anxiety.

As you can see, loneliness is part of a vicious cycle of a myriad of unpleasant mental states. This is why you must never underestimate the bonds in your life and why it’s truly akin to a battlefield… Basically, you have to get out of there by being a fighter.

Is There Something We Can Do?

Of course, there are the usual cliché advices about “getting out and meeting people”, etc., etc… They’re effective. Try to be as social as possible. Eat healthy and exercise as much as possible.

Obviously, that’s not going to work right away. You have to work on other things, as well… Yourself.

The best tip on this subject that I got from a friend was simple, and yet genius… “Make the most out of this time.”

And then it hit me… I’m going to do just that. I’m going to accept 2020 as being the year in which I got my shit together… And let me tell you this: I’m failing miserably. I have days when I feel too lonely to even listen a track. But I also have days when I learned a lot, I worked a lot on myself, learned a new skill.

Jokingly, I say to myself sometimes: “… If you’re going to be spending so much time with yourself, you might as well spend it in good company.”

See what I did there? That’s called self-love, my friend. It’s the ability to know you’re of s**t, but have the ability to appreciate and “get along” with the piece of s**t that is yourself.

Debilitating Loneliness

Unfortunately, things can get rough when an individual is deeply lonely. They may become reclusive and not even aware that they need help. And yes, sometimes it does get to the point in which telling your doctor about these issues is the best choice one can make.

Your doctor can examine you and prescribe whatever he considers necessary. Usually, doctors prescribe antidepressants, although there were some cases in which atypical depression was successfully treated with stimulants such as Modafinil.

The Most Important Tip That I Can Give You: Keep Yourself Busy!

Find something that’s worth investing time, money and feelings in. That could be just about any other hobby, passion, activity… even a business. If you can use this time to start a business, you’ll be entering 2021 with your shields high and weapons on-the-ready for the uncertain times that lie ahead.