“A great informative session. Makes me realise I’m not alone anymore”
Mental Health Awareness Week in May this year raised additional awareness around loneliness and this months blog provides more insight in this respect.
Please take a moment to reread the above client feedback and reflect on how lonely that individual felt before her workplace addressed menopause.
The feelings of loneliness and isolation are regularly apparent for many menopausal individuals.
How can we possibly feel lonely when nearly half of the population will go through menopause?
The answer is… we don’t know why we feel alone.
Why don’t we know?
Generally because we are struggling to understand how we are feeling due to our fluctuating hormones that are impacting us in many different ways and ultimately leading to a feeling of loneliness (amongst others).
I meet so many individuals who feel this is only happening to them and that is why we need to continue to open up and normalise this conversation in the workplace and home.
The varied emotional, physical and psychological changes can feel extremely personal and often ones that we don’t feel we can talk about through fear of judgment or lack of understanding.
My experience is that talking, sharing and gaining support and understanding is the best thing we can do for ourselves and is so very important. This may feel difficult, but you are not alone.
The definition of ‘loneliness’
Sadness because one has no friends or company.
“Feelings of depression and loneliness”.
This definition isn’t strictly the case for menopausal individuals, as they generally do have friends and company, but they don’t know how to reach them.
Unsupported loneliness and other contributing factors can lead to feelings of depression and I am always advising businesses and individuals of the various links between peri-menopause/menopause and impacts on mental health.
I am delighted to be able to share with you further insight into this topic from Amanda Whitlock who is a Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultant and Trainer at Total Wellbeing Matters:
Loneliness and Mental health
One definition of loneliness is: “Loneliness is not necessarily about being alone. Instead, “it is the perception of being alone and isolated that matters most”
We all feel lonely at times – this is normal human behaviour and as we are all individual our experiences of being alone will each be different.
The definition above makes the distinction that loneliness is not the same as being alone – some people can feel lonely in a crowd of people. Feeling lonely in itself is not a mental health issue but feeling lonely can have an impact on your mental health. Some research suggests that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of developing some mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
There is no one cause for loneliness and it can be difficult sometimes to articulate why we are feeling lonely. Sometimes adverse life events such as: losing your job, the death of a loved one, a relationship breakdown, retiring from work or starting university can cause this feeling. Certain times of the year can also bring on feelings of loneliness. Christmas, for example, can be very hard for some people
Feeling lonely can be very stressful and it can be daunting to try and take positive steps to feel better. It is important to give yourself time and to consciously be kind to yourself.
There are five simple evidence based steps you can take to help improve your mental health and wellbeing.
Connect
It can be difficult to connect with others when you are feeling alone but reaching out to those around you and telling them how you feel can be the first step in improving your wellbeing.
Be Active
There is evidence to suggest that being active is great for both your physical and mental health especially if you can exercise outside. It doesn’t have to be very intense to have a benefit – just walking around the block can have a benefit.
Take notice
Research has shown that paying more attention to the present moment can improve a sense of wellbeing. Some people call this “mindfulness”. What it means is taking the time to enjoy the moment and the world around you.
Learn
Learning something new can improve your mental wellbeing by boosting your self-esteem and confidence. It can also help you give you a sense of purpose with clearly defined goals to achieve. You could try signing up for a short course on a subject that interests you. Meeting like minded people may lead to you forming meaningful connections with them.
Give
It has been reported that those individuals who help others are more likely to describe themselves as happy. Giving creates positive feelings and a sense of reward. It also helps you connect to others.
Evidence suggests that a small improvement in wellbeing can help to decrease some mental health problems and also help people to flourish so by incorporating these 5 steps into your day-to-day life can really make a difference. You may find the NHS website useful – see below.
