In 2023, the Surgeon General declared an epidemic of loneliness, warning that it was important for people to connect with others. But many people haven’t been able to shake their feelings of loneliness.
“Being lonely can take a toll on your physical, emotional and mental health,” says Jennifer Rusk, a behavioral health case manager with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. “While the isolation of the pandemic was assumed to cause an increase in loneliness, people are still feeling it today.”
Why we’re still lonely
Jennifer Rusk: The pandemic shifted almost every aspect of the way we live. In a way, our lives shifted from three-dimensional to two-dimensional. We worked, watched movies, and ate dinner at home. We connected with people through screens, rather than in person. Many children attended school virtually for a long time.
But as the pandemic receded, the problem didn’t go away. A 2024 survey found that nearly 1 in 3 Americans felt lonely every week – and 1 in 10 people felt lonely every day. The pandemic may have changed some of the neural pathways in our brains, which may have created new behaviors and thought patterns.
Plus, society has experienced some current events that have been stressful in the last few years. That can sometimes cause rifts in relationships and even lead to an “every man for himself” mentality. As a result, people may still be lonely, especially young people.
Steps to ease feelings of loneliness
Jennifer Rusk: When you’re lonely, you may develop emotional symptoms. These can include sadness, feelings of low self-esteem, and exhaustion. Loneliness can also show up in some unusual ways. You might develop physical symptoms of loneliness, such as body aches, insomnia or flu-like symptoms.
If you’ve had some of these feelings, consider trying these strategies:
- Turn to community resources. If you have a special interest—gardening, art history, dancing, or birdwatching, for instance—find a local group that you can join. Or sign up to participate in a community service event.
- Try something new. Have you always wanted to learn to tap dance or brush up on a foreign language? Take a class. You might make some new friends.
- Change things up. Change your habits to see if it might improve your feelings. For example, if you work from home, plan a coffee date with a co-worker. If you tend to scroll on your phone, put it down and read a book or write a note to a friend.
- Remember that being alone does not equal loneliness. You can find meaning and purpose in solitude. Give yourself the opportunity to reflect and recharge when you need it. Look for little things that bring you joy and incorporate them into your daily routine.
- Talk to a professional. If you continue to struggle with loneliness, talk to a counselor or therapist. They can help you work through your feelings.
- Examine your social media habits. Does social media use make you feel more connected to people—or more isolated?
Help your children feel connected, too
Jennifer Rusk: If you’re a parent, try to model healthy behaviors to your children. Show them that you value connecting with people. Help them practice their social skills. Ask a lot of open-ended questions and be sure to listen thoughtfully to the responses.
Also, help your children find groups that play to their strengths or interests so they can meet people who share them. This can help them develop their own meaningful connections beyond their families.
“Meaningful interactions with other people provide a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and connection,” Jennifer says. “We need meaningful connections to continue to grow and maintain a healthy body and mind.”
WellTuned guide to combatting loneliness at work
Get more information about specific health terms, topics and conditions to better manage your health on bcbst.com. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members can access wellness-related discounts on fitness products, gym memberships, healthy eating and more through Blue365®. BCBST members can also find tools and resources to help improve health and well-being by logging into BlueAccess and going to the Managing Your Health tab.