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As dreamers, we are constantly living in a world of fantasy. For many of us, our imagination is our greatest escape from the stale monotony of the every day. Some of us indulge in reading, others playing video games, and some in crafts. Whatever our means of escape, we are trying to remove ourselves from something we find unpleasant about the ordinary. Most of us were probably considered “odd” or “different” since childhood. As a result, it was probably always difficult for those who consider themselves a dreamer to connect with other people. We’re more at ease in our minds. Many of our activities showcase this. Most of us have chosen hobbies more solitary in nature. While this is wonderful, and allows us to express ourselves and/or relax, often many dreamers will get caught up into these things as a security blanket. Who wants to crawl out from a warm and cozy blanket? However, the result of this may be a feeling of disconnection with the world leading many to feel empty or lonely. Now there’s nothing wrong with having a dose of escapism, but when you find that you need more and more and that your loneliness is turning into more of a depression, then it’s time to step back and look at ways to combat it.
Generally speaking, winter is the worst time for the blues. It’s cold out often forcing us to retreat indoors. You’re not making as much social contact as a result. There’s also limited sunlight. We need a certain amount of exposure to the sun in order to keep us going. It helps keep our hormones balanced. In the winter, sunlight is sparse and thus many people suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which is thought to be caused, in part, due to a lack of sunlight.
But whether or not it’s winter or summer, you can feel lonely at any time of the year. Here are some tips to help you pull through it.
* Try to reach out to friends and relatives you haven’t spoken to for a while. You may not be the only one suffering. Not only will you be making social contact, but you might have made someone else feel better too. A simple call can do wonders.
* Look into volunteer opportunities. There are plenty of volunteer positions in community services. People in nursing homes or hospitals are lonely too. Offering your time can help you both out and make you feel better.
* Organize a regular activity with friends. Try to form a group to meet with friends once a week. This could be anything that you and your friends have interest in – exercising, board games, sewing, cooking. Having regular contact with friends should take the edge off.
* Make a friend diary. A friend of mine keeps a little diary with an entry of all her friends. She writes all the things she loves about them. Try doing this. Make a little journal with a profile for each of your friends to remind yourself of all the important people in your life.
* Check out events in your area that appeal to your interests. Attending conventions, classes or local events can allow you the opportunity to meet a ton of new people with similar interests as you. Just remember to put yourself out there. Get to know new people and try to forge new connections.
* Get out more. The more you stay inside, the longer your blues will stay. Even if you don’t have anyone to hang out with, try to at least get outside. Go for a walk, take up photography, or go window shopping. It may not make you feel less lonely, but you will at least be getting outside and that may still improve your mood.
* Work toward a goal. There are plenty of things we put off in our lives – term papers, sending out thank you cards, cleaning the bedroom, redoing the bathroom, finishing that scrapbook you’ve been working on, etc. We often have responsibilities or projects that we tend to put off. If, for whatever reason, you have little social contact, try to work on a goal just for you. Work toward something. In the end you will feel productive.
Overall, the important thing to know about dealing with loneliness is that you have to be proactive. Don’t wait for others to come to you. Put yourself out there. However, if you find that your loneliness is lingering and that it is turning into something more debilitating to your everyday life, you may want to seek out professional council.
