According to conducted research and studies by Cigna, people everywhere are experiencing a loneliness epidemic and no one is immune. It affects everyone from different genders, ages, racial backgrounds, socio-economic classes, etc. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is bringing feelings of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues to the surface. For some, the coming holiday season can also bring forth feelings of loneliness.
Human beings naturally look to build their community through contact, shared experience, and vulnerability. Jennifer Libby (MSW, LCSW, CEO and Founder of Promly) will share how those three principles work together, how Meetup facilitates relationship-building, and resources & tools to achieve connection. The information, tips, and resources mentioned in this session is intended for all audiences.
Main Takeaways/Resources:
- We’ve been in a loneliness epidemic before the pandemic. We’re in an informational daze. You get so much thrown at you that we forget how to connect. We already had a situation that was pretty intense and COVID has made that ability to connect so much more difficult.
- I was so grateful for Meetup. There are so many times when I have clients that for whatever reason are literally all alone, not knowing a soul. I’ve made it a homework assignment to find something. It has literally been a game changer for people. Meetup really does change lives. When I meet with clients that are struggling, the Meetup community has been immensely supportive. I love the fact that some groups are nice small groups. There’s a lot of these small groups that allow for the ability to really connect.
- Some practical tips and resources also available in the slides shared by Jennifer here:
- 3Ms :
- Music – Our brains respond well to music even starting your day with a little bit of shift.
- Movement – Even a little movement is an improvement.
- Meditation
- EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), How to tap video recommended by Jennifer
- Increase eye contact (even online)
- 3Ms :
- Additional resources mentioned:
- If you’re looking for a Meetup group here are some helpful links to our find page:
- Upcoming loneliness related events
- Upcoming support related events
- Upcoming events for widows or widowers
- Upcoming social events (20s social, parents social, seniors social, etc.)
Top Q&A Questions:
- I work alone and live alone, how can I cope with my loneliness?
- I think of resources like online chatting (7 cups, sanvello, crisis text) as well as really trying to plan things to look forward to that interact with other people. Truly trying to structure even just once a day connecting with somebody that doesn’t have to do with work, even time to be outside and see people from a distance.
- There are many like me who are in their 60s, no living relatives, many friends gone, and male, meaning hard to socialize and connect. What are options during the pandemic?
- There are a lot of groups that are geared toward (different demographics), especially men’s groups. As a result of the pandemic, people are really acknowledging that it’s really hard. I’m hearing more people coming together and joining each other and saying, “let’s just have a conversation about it.”
Look for opportunities that are geared toward being online. I know they exist and they are popping up more and more.
- There are a lot of groups that are geared toward (different demographics), especially men’s groups. As a result of the pandemic, people are really acknowledging that it’s really hard. I’m hearing more people coming together and joining each other and saying, “let’s just have a conversation about it.”
- Is there any benefit from being alone?
- There’s a difference between being alone and lonely. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was seeing people having family game nights, and cooking dinner and getting pets, and I’m seeing that slow down. Spend time thinking about what you want to do.
Last modified on June 23, 2021
