subject: Single And Lonely- Finding Your Way Out [print this page] Let's face it: it isn't always easy being single. Loneliness and other emotional concerns become so much harder to deal with when you have no one to share your thoughts and feelings with, and you will frequently have to bear the brunt of your fears alone. Despite the numerous perks of being single, loneliness is a constant and very real concern that can affect your life negatively in many different ways.
We are all familiar with the tragically quaint concept of dying of loneliness. The driving theme-or at least a prominent one-of countless works of literature and cinema, death by loneliness is a tragic occurrence that has largely been considered little more than melodrama dreamed up by an active imagination. However, more recent scientific research shows that there may be a link between loneliness and illness-and even early death-after all. Studies conducted at the University of California show that chronic loneliness can affect the body in numerous ways. For this reason, it is important to find healthy ways of dealing with stress and loneliness while you are single.
There are many things you can do to ease the pain of loneliness and prevent such emotions from taking over your life. Try to spend some time with friends or family whenever you can. In some cases, all you really need is someone to talk to and even just a few minutes spent socializing on occasion can help keep you from slipping into a loneliness cycle.
You can also use the time to pursue an interest or hobby that you never had time for. Keep in mind that for all its perks, being a relationship will mean that you will have to spend a significant portion of your time seeing to the needs of your partner, or simply being in each other's company. Although not necessarily a bad thing, this can severely limit the time that you can spend in your own pursuits. You may never have as much free time again, so strive to be comfortable with being single, and loneliness becomes less of an issue.
Loneliness is a funny thing sometimes. The more you coddle it and give into its ebbs and flows, the more control it will have over your life. On the other hand, you can ignore-or at least disregard-loneliness to a considerable degree. By focusing less on yourself and more on the needs of others, you may be able to prevent loneliness from becoming a major factor in your life. You may want to consider volunteering to services to a local youth group, homeless assistance program, or a retirement home. Working closely with other people who are less fortunate than you may just give you a clearer perspective on your life, plus you have the added benefit of helping out other people.
Finally, you can just relax and revel in your singleness while you can. Enjoy all the benefits of being single, and loneliness never has to be a source of worry for you.
