Depression may have a number of symptoms but one of the primary feelings depressed people tend to have is loneliness. Most people suffering from the disorder have the perception that they are alone with no one who understands them, cares for them or loves them. Man is a social being and feeling lonely can severely damage a person’s mental state. Solitary imprisonment is considered as one of the harshest punishments and rightfully so. Loneliness depression is caused when either the person feels lonely mentally or literally. Some people are literally alone with barely any family or friends to keep them company while others manifest a perception that tells them that they are alone despite being surrounded by family and friends. Both these situations can have the same, damaging effects.
Depression and loneliness can result from a variety of reasons experienced during a person’s lifetime. These experiences may occur to several people but only certain individuals are affected to a deep extent that eventually culminates with the person developing the condition. Here are some common reasons which results in loneliness and depression:
- End of a relationship – love is a powerful emotion and when that bond is broken, a person may feel lonely despite having their family and friends around. They may lose the person with a break up or death. Besides this, losing a close friend can also have the same effect. In our lives, a few people matter a lot compared to the rest. If one of them is lost, an individual may feel alone and helpless.
- Losing your job – a career can be as precious as a loved one. You put effort into it, invest time and money into it and one day it could be gone. This could leave you in despair and make you feel rejected. It can have a further strain as you are no longer stable financially.
- Dealing with difficult circumstances – you may be in a very difficult situation People may be in difficult situations for numerous reasons. Having a disease or injury is one instance. Being in a difficult spot financially can also be one example. In these situations, you tend to feel lonely as you believe that no one will understand you and know what it’s like because they haven’t experienced it. This can make you feel lonely as well.
These are three common situations where loneliness and depression are linked. Depression caused by loneliness is best treated by counseling and talk therapy. Making them understand that they are not alone and their mental state is temporary is key to alleviating their symptoms.