Loneliness and Isolation

May 26, 2020 | ACT Teletherapy |
Isolation and Loneliness

We are often alone but loneliness is a whole different matter. Feelings of loneliness leave you sad about being by yourself and unhappy about being disconnected from friends and family. The current COVID-19 pandemic has left many people hungry for social activities and missing their time with others.

Illustration of a heart and a head joined by a line, representing the physical and mental health effects of chronic loneliness.

But when is lonely a problem?

Short-term isolation can leave us with feelings of loneliness. The more active and social you were before the coronavirus pandemic, the stronger your feelings of loneliness and isolation may be. When we are physically or emotionally separated from other people for a long time, it may begin to have an impact on our mental and physical health. Here are some warning signs that our feelings of emptiness need to be addressed:

  • Decreased energy levels
  • Decreased appetite
  • Inability to focus
  • Poor sleeping habits
  • Substance misuse or abuse
  • Binge eating; binge TV-watching; binge anything
  • Frequent illness
  • Feelings of
    • Self-doubt
    • Worthlessness
    • Hopelessness
    • Stress
    • Anxiety
    • Restlessness

Illustration of one figure alone at the centre of a wide empty space with others far at the edges, representing isolation.

What to do BEFORE loneliness becomes a real problem

Therapy can help allow you to explore and understand your feelings of loneliness and can help you to develop positive ways of dealing with them. Therapy can provide an opportunity for you to discuss any emotional problems that might be impacting your ability to form satisfying and lasting relationships. Don’t let isolation and loneliness escalate to higher health risks! Get help now. Teletherapy makes it easier than ever to address mental health problems from home. At ACT Teletherapy, we have a team of qualified and talented therapists that will gently and compassionately help you discover new ways of overcoming any emotional challenges that get in the way of building deeper relationships with others. ACT Teletherapy has safe, secure, and HIPAA compliant tools for communication, including voice, video, and texting options. Try them all and settle on a way to access your therapist that suits your personality and your lifestyle. Call or contact us to get started. Nothing could be easier!

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If any of this sounds like your situation, our counseling for loneliness and isolation is where this work actually happens. We see people in person at our offices in Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, and by telehealth anywhere in California.

We are contracted with Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Health Net, TRICARE and Optum among others — see the plans we are contracted with. Our staff confirms your benefits before your first session.

Request an intake appointment or contact us with a question first — either is a normal way to start.

Clinical content reviewed by Nicholas Fittante, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #27161).

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for individual clinical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.