What are the signs that you’re experiencing loneliness? Lincolnshire GP receptionists taught to spot them

Loneliness can be the root cause of a number of ailments
Loneliness can have a profound impact on mental health
Unsplash
Beril Naz Hassan24 October 2022

Receptionists at GP surgeries across Lincolnshire are being taught the signs of loneliness, in an effort to help those suffering from it.

The initiative is set to kick off in the Spalding area and has the support of the Campaign to End Loneliness. This has found that one in four people in Lincolnshire reported feeling lonely either often or at some point during the pandemic.

If the first-of-its-kind training trial is successful, it is expected to be rolled out across the rest of the country.

Of course, it’s not just people in Lincolnshire who suffer from loneliness. The Royal College of General Practitioners reports that 75 per cent of GPs have one to five consultations a day that are due to loneliness.

But what are the signs that show you’re experiencing loneliness? Here’s what we know.

1. You surround yourself with stuff

If you find yourself compulsively shopping and surrounding yourself with copious amounts of stuff, you might be trying to fill the void that loneliness causes in your life.

Alternatively, if you buy a lot of food that you never eat, you might want to ask yourself what motivates you to buy it. Is it because you’re hoping you will have guests over one day? Or could it be a coping mechanism for some unresolved feelings you may have?

2. You find yourself seeking warmth

Those who are lonely and don’t have a chance to interact with other people a lot may find themselves constantly seeking the comfort of warmth. This could be through hot showers, warm cups of tea, or cosy, huggable blankets.

Those who suffer from loneliness may have an unhealthy relationship with social media
PA Archive

3. You get ill very often

If you find yourself constantly suffering from a cold or feeling unwell, it may be due to the high levels of stress or sadness you’re experiencing from loneliness.

4. You’re addicted to social media

Those who don’t have the stimulation and joy of human interaction may lean on social media to feel a sense of connection.

It may also further fuel your feelings of isolation if you consume a lot of content about other people’s friendships and supportive loved ones.

If you find yourself in this cycle, try to change your relationship with social media by using it as a tool to get in touch with friends and find like-minded people.

5. You suffer from mood or anxiety disorders

Another sign of loneliness can be the negative impact it has on our mental health and mood.

Socialising is an evolutionary need that has numerous health benefits. For instance, hugging another person reduces our stress levels and causes the release of the brain chemical oxytocin, which boosts our mood.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in