Lonely people turn to dating apps. But these platforms can trigger depressive symptoms in those with pre-existing mental health conditions and make them feel lonelier.
Therapists recommend stepping away from your phone, learning something new or taking a walk. Changing your habits can help you overcome loneliness and feel more confident in your own skin.
TalkLife
TalkLife is a social network app that helps people overcome loneliness. It connects users with similar interests and allows them to share their experiences. It also offers advice and support to help users through hard times. It is available for both iOS and Android devices. Once you have downloaded the app, it will show a list of permissions.
It is not designed to replace professional help, but it is an excellent tool for peer support. It can help you feel less alone and find the courage to face your problems. It is a safe space where you can talk about any problem without fear of judgement or bullying.
The community in TalkLife is full of people who have felt lonely or struggled with mental health issues. They are here to listen through the shiny and the muck, and they can really lift you up. You can even discuss your problems anonymously.
Huggle
Huggle uses geo-location to match you with potential dates, friends or both. You can find out who else goes to your local cafe or gym and choose to chat, swipe or send a wink to people you like.
This approach to making new connections struck a chord with co-founders model Stina Sanders and gardening blogger Valerie Stark, who found it hard to meet new people when they first moved to London. They spotted each other at the same yoga studio and eventually started a friendship that would lead to Huggle.
The app connects through Facebook and allows members to verify their identity using a selfie that undergoes a one-minute image verification process. They can also verify their location using GPS. Photos uploaded to the site have strict rules that prohibit nudity or suggestive poses. A team of 5,000 moderators keeps the community safe and clean. It’s free to sign up and use the main features of the app.
YouTube
When we’re feeling alone, a good binge-watch can make us feel less so. The world’s largest video site, which welcomes a billion visitors a month, wasn’t always destined to become the swiping app it is today. In fact, it began life as a video dating website 15 years ago. Co-founder Steve Chen revealed that the site was initially launched as a way for single people to upload videos of themselves introducing themselves and saying what they were looking for in a partner.
Michelle Lloyd, 33, feels lonelier now she is out of a relationship, but she knows that meeting someone new wouldn’t solve her loneliness. Rather than limiting her interactions to text and social media, she tries to arrange in-person meet-ups where she feels safe and comfortable. She also tries to make sure her conversations aren’t too surface level, which research shows can increase feelings of isolation. Loneliness is contagious, and you’re more likely to feel a little lonely yourself if the people you spend time with are lonely too.
Meditation
Meditation can help you feel less alone because it teaches you to let go of negative thoughts. It also helps you become aware of your emotions, allowing you to recognize that they are temporary and not your identity.
Loneliness is often experienced as feeling disconnected from others, but studies have found that meditation can increase feelings of connectedness to those around us. One study, in particular, found that loving-kindness meditation increased positive emotions towards strangers and decreased loneliness.
Another benefit of meditation is that it can reduce stress and increase mental health, which are both important for your love life. It’s important to find a practice that works for you, and it’s also helpful to supplement it with other activities, such as stepping outside of your comfort zone or trying new things. This will help you associate those activities with a positive experience and will make it harder to feel lonely in the future. If you’re interested in learning more about meditation, there are plenty of resources available online or through apps.