How to Overcome Loneliness While Socially Isolated

Senior isolation is a public health risk to elderly people across the United States. This experience significantly increases the risk of premature death, dementia, and depression, and it can lead to social withdrawal and unhappiness. With the novel coronavirus pandemic keeping folks physically separate, senior loneliness is becoming a more widespread experience than in past years. 

Most people assume that spending time with others is the best way to overcome loneliness. In reality, combatting isolation requires a lot more introspection. If you feel like you or your loved one is beginning to withdraw, there are a few strategies you can try to get them feeling better again – all without needing to visit in person. You know that medical alert systems can improve communication and overall safety, but sometimes, a bit of self-reflection is necessary to overcome mental health hurdles.

While most psychologists agree that dealing with loneliness should involve several strategies, here are a few social-distance-friendly ways to get started.

• Self-Talk – Self-talk is the term for the conversations we have with ourselves. Like in conversations with other people, self-talk can be either destructive or beneficial. It can influence how you feel about yourself, as well as how you respond to your surroundings. Lonely people are accustomed to negative self-talk, so keeping a positive internal monologue is important to feeling happier.

• Maladaptive Thinking – Over time, loneliness makes people more sensitive to rejection and hostility. This causes lonely people to think of the worst possible outcome when faced with certain situations. Changing these maladaptive thinking patterns can significantly reduce loneliness.

• Reframe the Issue – Loneliness is a feeling, not a state of being. A person is not defined by their loneliness – they simply experience it. This reframing can stop a self-deprecation spiral. When you feel lonely, ask yourself: Why do I feel this way? The answer to this question can help guide you to a solution.

• Tap into Your Social Support Network – Many people respond to loneliness by withdrawing from their loved ones. This decision only reinforces feelings of loneliness. Instead, do what you can to build up your social network from the safety of your home. Join an online community, like a Facebook group, and reconnect with loved ones using social media. These conversations do not have to be continuous – just knowing that loved ones are there to support you can help ease anxieties.

Many social support network benefits are unconscious. Even if you don’t speak with friends and family very often, the knowledge that they are always there to help matters. This is the same benefit most seniors experience with a medical alert system. Whether you need to use it for an emergency, it can be comforting to know that help is just a tap away.

A medical alert system can also bolster a senior’s support network. With systems from Alert1, operators can connect users to both emergency support as well as pre-selected contacts. Our prices are also lower than Life Alert costs – you may be able to save some money to invest in a new webcam for video chats with friends and family.