<h3>1. Ask for help. </h3>Reach out to friends and family with a phone call or a personal visit. Talk about feelings of isolation to cue in loved ones. If you have a significant other, tell him or her that you’re feeling lonely in the relationship. Sharing feelings helps open the door to greater social involvement.2. Find purpose. Join a local community, church, or temple group that dovetails with some of your interests. Consider volunteering as another great way to make new friends and socialize. <h3> </h3>

Strategies to Reduce Loneliness 

<ul><li>Loneliness increases the likelihood of <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1745691614568352">death by 26%</a>.</li><li> Loneliness in young teens heightens the risk for <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4225959/">mental health disorders</a>.</li><li> Loneliness <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/hea-hea0000467.pdf">worsens</a> symptoms and length of illness when sick.</li><li>Loneliness lessens children’s <a href="http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2002/08/ecstasy-lonely.aspx">immune responses</a>.</li><li> Loneliness increases the risk of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2841310/">high blood pressure</a>.</li><li> Loneliness raises the risk for heart attack by 29%.</li></ul>

Dangers of Loneliness 

<ul><li>Lonely individuals are at higher risk for disability.</li><li>Loneliness puts individuals at greater risk of cognitive decline.</li><li>Loneliness raises the risk by 32% for stubbiness</li><li>Loneliness raises the risk of poor physical health in children.</li><li>Loneliness increases suicide <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Depression-Later-Life-Essential-Guide/dp/1538110431/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=">in the geriatric populatio</a>n.</li><li>Loneliness increases<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28714893"> suicidal ideation and suicide attempts</a> in teenagers.</li></ul>

1. Interpersonal LonelinessThis is the most common kind of loneliness children and adults experience. This is where a person is socially isolated or perceives him or herself as cut off from a significant other.2. Social LonelinessSocial loneliness is where children or adults are excluded, rejected, or perceives themselves to be disconnected from a group or community.3. Cultural Loneliness﻿When a person feels a disconnect from their own culture or the mainstream culture so much so that they feel they don’t belong anywhere.

Types of Loneliness 

4. Intellectual Loneliness Where a child or an adult feels a lack of intellectual stimulation and connectedness to others or a group. 5. Psychological Loneliness When trauma disrupts a person’s sense of belongingness, loneliness can result. Because no one else can understand the trauma, social <a href="https://mind.help/topic/withdrawal/">withdrawal</a> can occur.6. Existential LonelinessWhen morality is faced by a child or an adult, an isolating sense of loneliness can develop.

<h3>3. Seek a four-legged friend. </h3>Consider adopting a pet. Creating a bond with a dog, cat, or another animal companion can ease feelings of loneliness and improve well-being. <h3>4. Unplug from computer/phone/social media and connect in real life.</h3>Remember to disconnect from technology and put yourself into the real world. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28093386">Studies</a> show that offline interactions have more positive social effects than online activities. Young adults and teens who spend a lot of time on social media are twice as likely to feel lonely. <h3> </h3>

Everyone from time to time has felt lonely. Physically, feel hollow and empty inside. As if something is missing within. Emotionally, feeling alone, sad, and untethered.

Loneliness

Loneliness looms larger than painful emotional, mental or physical experiences, and research has shown that loneliness is really, really bad for your health.

Strategies to Reduce Loneliness

3. Seek a four-legged friend.

4. Unplug from computer/phone/social media and connect in real life.

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