Loneliness is endemic. Despite — and I can’t repeat this outdated line enough — how “connected” we are globally, research screams daily that we are just not feeling it.
Being lonely can detrimentally affect your mental health. You don’t need to be surrounded by crowds of people — that’s…that’s not how it works and is also my nightmare. You’re reading the thoughts of someone who loves alone time (But that’s not lonely time). I’m talking about having meaningful, reciprocal relationships with other people.
In mental health care, we’re supposed to know this inherently. And I guess we do, we’re just not translating it into reality.
Your Support Network
Working in mental health, we often talk about this elusive ‘support network’. It might be made up of your healthcare providers, your practitioner and therapist and all the other -ists. You know, when a team like that works well together it is incredibly valuable.
When it doesn’t, well. You’re just a client, right? You’re one of the ones what slipped through the net. You can’t help everyone.
Because these people aren’t your friends. They’re not your family. That’s another section of your support network entirely.
