Loneliness For Dummies

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in This Book
	Beyond the Book
	Where to Go from Here
	Help Us Assess How the Book Helps You
Part 1 Understanding Loneliness
	Chapter 1 Loneliness and Why You Feel It
		What Is Loneliness?
			Transient loneliness
			Chronic loneliness
		Is It Loneliness Or Something Else?
			Experiencing social isolation
			Feeling lonely in a crowd
			Suffering alone or enjoying solitude
		Why Do You Feel Lonely?
			An evolutionary perspective
			Absence of meaningful relationships
			Lack of belonging
			Poor self-perception
			Symptom of society
		The Prevalence of Loneliness
			International trends
			Cross-country variations
		Thinking about Ways to Overcome Loneliness
			Snubbing the stigma
			Awareness and acceptance
			Knowing where to begin
	Chapter 2 Who’s at Risk of Loneliness and How It’s Measured
		Demographic Characteristics That Can Lead to Loneliness
			Age as a factor
				Loneliness in young adulthood
				Loneliness in older adults
			The role of gender
			Sexual orientation as a factor
			Ethnicity’s role
			Disabilities and loneliness
		How Personal Circumstances Influence Loneliness
			Marital status
			Health conditions
			Being a caregiver
			Social class and financial circumstances
			Access to transportation
		Life Events That Trigger Loneliness
			Bereavement
			Children leaving home
			Having a baby
			Divorce and separation
			Moving house
			Changed employment status
			Changing educational institutions
			Global disasters, pandemics, and violence
		Measurement Tools for Loneliness
			The UCLA loneliness scale
			The De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale
	Chapter 3 The Wide-ranging Costs of Chronic Loneliness
		Personal Costs of Loneliness
			Health impacts
			Concerns for general well-being
			Limited educational success
			Stifling performance at work
			Choking creativity
		Costs to the Economy
			Staff turnover
			Absenteeism
			Reduced productivity
			Social prescribing for loneliness
Part 2 Creating Havens of Social Connection and Belonging
	Chapter 4 Making Connections at Home
		Moving In with a Partner
			Scheduling time with one another
			Introducing yourselves as a couple
			Keeping other connections
			Making yourself a local
			Volunteering in your local community
		Living with the In-Laws
			Avoiding misunderstanding and conflict
			Being open and honest with your partner
			Making meaningful connections with your in-laws
			Maintaining other relationships
			Getting out of the house
		Having and Raising Children
			Sharing how you feel
			Contacting support groups
			Spending time with your partner, friends, and extended family
			Engaging with the world beyond parenthood
			Getting outside and staying active
			Exploring new, meaningful activities
			Managing as empty nesters
			Acknowledging how you feel
			Preparing and planning for life after the nest is empty
			Remaining calm
			Agreeing to expectations with your child
			Strengthening connections with your partner
			Embracing the peacefulness
		Finding Yourself Trapped in a Lonely Relationship
			Sharing your feelings
			Making time to be together
			Confiding in a friend of family member
		Adjusting to Marriage by Arrangement
			Making an effort to connect with your partner
			Balancing who you spend your time with
			Seeking support in your faith or in a local group
		Experiencing Domestic Abuse
			Finding support
			Reaching out to other people
			Seeking out psychological support
			Reengaging with activities from the past
		Creating a Connected Home
			Bonding through food
			Playing together
			Scheduling date nights
			Realizing the power of pets
	Chapter 5 Belonging in Your Community
		Feeling Disconnected in the Community
			Rural retreats or city life
			Type of housing
			Neighborhood design
			Crime and fear for safety
		Bridging Gaps in Your Community to Encourage Belonging
			Feeling accepted
			Cultivating neighborliness
			Connecting around shared interests
			Sharing friendship through food
		Harnessing Connectedness and Community in Public Spaces
			Using green spaces
			Conversing on benches and buses
			Interacting in community facilities
	Chapter 6 Finding Your Place at Work
		What Is Workplace Loneliness?
			Defining loneliness at work
			Understanding the implications of workplace loneliness
			Calculating loneliness in your workforce
		The Influence of Workplace Culture on Loneliness
			Alignment with your values
			Demographics: Feeling you don’t “fit in”
			Loneliness at the top
		Impact of Employment Practices on Loneliness
			Designing your workplace
				Workplace 1: A lonely place to be
				Workplace 2: A more socially interactive space
			Working alone
			Working remotely
			Dealing with precarious contracts
		Addressing Workplace Loneliness
			Talking about loneliness at work
			Lunching together
			Volunteering through work
			Taking advantage of peer support groups
			Engaging with remote workers
			Training and mentoring
	Chapter 7 Interacting Through Technology
		Using Technology to Find and Connect with Friends
			Live phone calls and video chats
			Text and voice messages
			Social media
				How social media can help against loneliness
				Identifying which social media platforms to use
			Friendship apps
		Distracting Yourself with “Surrogate Relationships”
			TV and streaming services
			Radio and podcasts
		Immersing in a Virtual World
			Toying with virtual reality and augmented reality
			Gaming
			Social robots
Part 3 Dealing with Loneliness During Life Transitions
	Chapter 8 Overcoming Bereavement
		The Loneliness of Grief
			Loss of companionship
			Breakdown of your social network
			When others move on
			Losing your caregiving role
			Changed sense of belonging
			Practical obstacles
		Dealing with Loss in Your Own Way (and Time)
			Visiting death cafés
			Talking to family and friends
			Peer and bereavement support
			Counseling and therapy
			Journaling
		Resuming Your Life
			Getting out and about again
			Challenging yourself
			Making small steps to (re)connection
	Chapter 9 The Loneliness of Health Conditions and Disabilities
		Preventing Loneliness Due to a Physical Illness or Disability
			Finding or creating outlets for support
				Maintain contact with friends and family
				Open up
				Online or in-person support groups
				Talk to a counselor
				Exercise
				Engaging in meaningful activities
				Write a diary or journal of your experience
				Create a bucket list
				Explore YouTube
				Accept yourself and your condition
			Discovering ways to socialize
				Online coffee lounges
				Friendship and dating apps
				Gaining paid or voluntary employment
				Join social media groups
				Peer Support
				Get a buddy or befriender
		Loneliness and Disabilities
			Physical immobility
			Intellectual/developmental disabilities
			Sensory impairment
		Inhibiting Disorders
			Skin conditions
			Urinary incontinence
				Take control through planning ahead
				Being prepared for accidents
				Regaining intimacy
		Serious Conditions
			Cancer
			HIV
	Chapter 10 Understanding the Interplay between Mental Health and Loneliness
		Common Mental Health Conditions
			Depression
				Talk to your family and friends and ask for help
				Join a peer support group
				Identify enjoyable activities
				Engage in physical activity
				Talk to a therapist
				Visit your doctor
			Managing anxiety
		Cognitive Impairment
			Dementia
				Attending dementia cafés
				Leaning on your family, friends, neighbors, and local community
				Using technology for connection and safety
				Reaching out to local dementia support groups, advisors, and “friends”
				Dementia-friendly communities
		Addiction and Eating Disorders
			Alcoholism and substance misuse
				Joining a Recovery Fellowship
				Spending quality time with family and friends
				Joining a local community group, club, or activity
				Seeking professional help
			Eating disorders
				Building confidence in yourself and your body
				Setting yourself a goal or challenge to achieve
				Joining a local body-positive support group
				Doing activities that you enjoy
				Seeing a therapist
	Chapter 11 Becoming a Caregiver
		Knowing What to Expect as a Caregiver
			Adapting to a caregiving role
				Acknowledge that you’re a caregiver
				Get as much information as possible
				Make a plan so that you’re fully prepared for your caregiving role
				Be open with the person you’re caregiving for about your needs
				Talk to other family and friends about your caregiving role
				Identify other caregivers like yourself whom you can confide in
			Managing changing relationships
		Understanding the Caregiving Role
			Caregiving for disabled and adult children
			Looking after your spouse
			Caregiving for a parent
		Adjusting To Life When Your Caregiving Role Ceases
	Chapter 12 Making an Education or Employment Change
		Facing New Educational Situations
			Helping a child who’s starting school
				Explain what to expect
				Help your child connect
				Communicate with your child regularly
				Talk to your child’s teacher
			Navigating a change of school
				Seeking out like-minded people
				Retaining links with old friends
				Talking about your experiences
			Going to college or university
				Socialize with your housemates
				Join a club
				Attend your classes in person
				Get out and explore
				Volunteer or get a part-time job
				Join social media groups
				Make video calls to friends and family
				Talk to a counselor
		Starting Work or Changing Jobs
			Adapting to workplace culture
			Facing imposter syndrome
			Making conversation with colleagues
			Initiating meetups outside the office
		Finding Yourself Out of Work
			Finding good uses for your time
			Keeping up your existing connections
			Keeping your mind and body active
			Accepting yourself and your situation
		Facing Loneliness in Retirement
			Plan for retirement
			Move closer to family
			Bonding with grandkids
			Maintain and expand your social connections
			Pick up a hobby, skill, or good cause
Part 4 Beating Loneliness
	Chapter 13 Overcoming Loneliness Through Therapy or Healing Practices
		Getting Therapeutic Support
			Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
				How CBT works
				Evaluating whether CBT is right for you
			Interpersonal and Relationship Therapy
				How Interpersonal and Relationship Therapy works
				Evaluating if Interpersonal and Relationship Therapy is right for you
			Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
				How EMDR works
				Evaluating if EMDR is right for you
		Developing Healing Techniques
			Meditation
				Exploring different types of meditation
				Getting comfortable with meditation
			Emotional Freedom Technique
				How EFT works
				Evaluating whether EFT is right for you
			Self-hypnosis
				How self-hypnosis works
				How hypnosis works with a hypnotherapist
				Getting started with self-hypnosis
	Chapter 14 Developing Meaningful Relationships
		Assessing Your Current and Past Relationships
			Looking at your relationships chronologically
			Understanding “meaningfulness” in relationships
		Connecting with Like-Minded People
			Identifying like-minded people
			Reconnecting with people from the past
			Strengthening existing connections
			Making new connections
		Helping Others
			Volunteering
				Helping a neighbor or local resident
				Contacting charities or voluntary organizations
				Volunteering in a healthcare or hospital setting
				Local conservation, gardening, or “friends of” groups
				Local grassroots sports club
				Board of governors
				Political party or lobby group
				Volunteering at places of worship
				Picking up litter
			Peer support
			Befriending
	Chapter 15 Finding Meaningful Places
		What It Means to Belong to a Place
			Sense of belonging
			Sense of place
			Place attachment
		Identifying with a Specific Place
			Places of worship
			Sporting venues
				Sporting venues for spectators
				Attachment to place as a sports participant
			Open spaces
		Enjoying a Sense of Belonging
			Mapping your meaningful places
			Testing the waters
	Chapter 16 Building Resilience to Loneliness
		Squashing the Stigma of Loneliness
			Spreading the word
				Having open conversations about loneliness
				Discussing loneliness in the third person
				Using sensitive and inclusive terminology
				Being nonjudgmental
				Avoiding assumptions
				Contacting helplines
			Raising awareness
		Preparing for Life Transitions
			Embracing change
			Planning for change
			Establishing goals
			Remaining optimistic
			Acknowledging your skills and abilities
			Developing new skills
			Finding a sense of purpose
			Developing a strong social network
			Accepting and nurturing yourself
			Finding a sense of belonging
		Being Loneliness-Ready
			Changing the narrative
			Facing your fears
			Practicing self-compassion
			Living in the present moment
Part 5 The Part of Tens
	Chapter 17 Ten Tips to Break Out of Loneliness
		Recognizing and Accepting Loneliness
		Preparing for Life’s Transition Points
		Building Your Social Network
		Connecting to Others through Work
		Engaging in Meaningful Activities
		Visiting Familiar Places
		Immersing Yourself in Green Spaces
		Getting Active
		Helping Others
		Getting Therapeutic Support
	Chapter 18 Eleven Suggestions for Young People
		Prioritizing Face-to-Face Contact
		Joining a Sports Group
		Gaming Interactively
		Connecting with Technology
		Using Social Media Cautiously
		Connecting Through Apps
		Listening to Music
		Getting a Part-Time Job
		Becoming a Befriender
		Letting People In
		Spending Time Where You Belong
	Chapter 19 Ten Pointers for Men
		Showing Your Sporting Prowess
		Becoming a Sports Spectator
		Offering your Expertise and Skills
		Connecting Through Work
		Setting Yourself a Challenge
		Going Outdoors
		Gaming
		Building and Creating
		Talking to Other Men
		Accessing Social Prescribing
	Chapter 20 Ten Tactics for Later Life
		Finding a Surrogate Relationship
		Getting a Four-Legged Friend
		Taking Up or Resuming a Hobby
		Chatting by Phone and Video
		Intergenerational Bonding
		Accessing Support Groups
		Getting a Befriender
		Offering Your Services
		Learning a New Skill
		Visiting Meaningful Places
Appendix: Further Resources
	Alcohol and Drug Misuse
	Bereavement
	Cancer
	Caregiving
	Children and Young People
	Counseling and Therapy
	Crime and Safety
	Dementia
	Domestic Abuse
	Eating Disorders
	Friendship Apps
	HIV
	Marital Issues
	Mental Health Support
	National Loneliness Responses
	Obesity
	Parkrun
	Sexual Orientation
	Skin Conditions
	Social Prescribing
	Suicidal Thoughts
	Urinary Incontinence
Index
EULA