The New Epidemic: Loneliness in Young Adults

February 16, 2024

If you are a young adult between the ages of 18 and 30, chances are pretty high that you are either struggling or have struggled with a sense of disconnection and loneliness in the last year. And while the pain of loneliness and isolation is not going to be fixed by this blog post, it might help you to know that you are not alone in your feelings of loneliness and isolation.

In fact, at least one in three young adults report feeling more alone than ever and say they have trouble making friends. This can lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, lack of motivation, and despair. 

Young adulthood historically has been marked by a sense of great hope, adventure, and ambition. Loneliness, social isolation, and a sense of lostness were more prevalent in the elderly due to losses of relationships through death, loss of mobility, and ailing health. So why is this happening at such a high rate to so many young people? Over time, changes in the structures of family and society, the rise of technology and social media, the high rate of inflation, and the high cost of living have greatly affected young adults’ ability to stay connected to their families and friends. And because these factors are so foundational, they impact everyone to the point that we sometimes struggle with finding options for change.

My guess is that if you are one of the young adults who is feeling alone, you have made many attempts at working up the courage to try new things, meet people, and change your mindset. You may have read books, listened to podcasts, or scoured the internet trying to get a handle on how to change things for the better. You are not choosing to feel lonely, nor are you choosing to feel unmotivated about making friends. Instead, your body and mind may be in a type of response that is understandable and makes perfect sense when you consider what you have experienced and that you are in a type of survival mode. The way to change this response and experience something that feels better is to experience a true connection that sees you as you are at your core and is accepting, understanding, and supportive. This type of connection can help you understand the negative cycle that keeps you stuck and then can help empower you to make the changes you want. 

I am here to help. Please contact me for a free 15-minute phone consultation.

Source:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3n5aj/loneliness-epidemic-young-people