Stop Loneliness:
15 Techniques That Work Like A Charm 

You can stop loneliness in a variety of ways. Try one or more of these top techniques to decrease loneliness and depression, and to lead a truly happy life. Loneliness is a big problem in today's world, but there is hope for those who are suffering, thanks to a number of simple steps you can take to get connected right now. 

Happy girl celebrating lifePut a bounce in your step when you realize how easy it is to decrease loneliness

You really can stop loneliness in its tracks. All it takes is a little old fashioned faith and positive thinking. Well, there are a few tips I can offer from my analyst's couch -- tips I've gathered over my 40-year career as a professional therapist and mental health specialist that can really help.

Everyone feels lonely at one time or another. And it can be hard to make new friends in today's troubled and unpredictable world. The friends and acquaintances we have may be so busy and preoccupied they don't even notice how lonely we are. We may not tell them how we feel because we don't want to bother anyone. So . . . we suffer in silence.

What's a person to do?

Well, if you find yourself sitting at home - alone - and feeling sorry for yourself, simply try a few of these 15 tricks to decrease loneliness and make new friends. They have worked for many of my clients, and they will work for you. You, too, can stop loneliness. 

How to Stop Loneliness: 15 Sure-Fire Techniques 

Tip 1

1. Look through your address book or think of old relationships which you might revive. Even if you've lost your job, you can contact a few of your previous co-workers and arrange to meet them for lunch or a social outing. Stay in touch and keep those relationships going to stop loneliness.

Tip 2

2. Keep up any current relationships, as well . . . stay in touch with your friends and associates. Offer to meet them for coffee or tea.

Tip 3

3. Use your hobbies and interests as a springboard for meeting new people to stop loneliness.. Join a book reading group, gardening club or sign up for an exercise class.

Let's say you keep tropical fish. You can join the local aquarium club and faithfully attend their meetings. Join the chess club or a writer's group. When you are at a meeting, go out of your way to initiate conversations. In time, relationships will follow. And you won't feel so lonely!

In the small town where I live there is a drawing club, and people who enjoy sketching and drawing get together once or twice a month to do what they love. And there is an art guild, consisting of local artists who give one another support and encouragement.

Whatever you like to do, you can find a club or organization which can be of help to you in meeting new friends.

Tip 4

4. Volunteer your time.

No matter where you may live, there is probably an animal shelter that needs volunteers to help care for the homeless pets. Helping animals will help you to stop loneliness. 

Our local newspaper ran a story last week about a man who lost his job, so he volunteered at the animal shelter. He made lots of animal and people friends and soon became the director of the shelter. And now he has a new life which he absolutely loves! And yes, he was able to stop loneliness. 

In nearly every community there are nursing homes where lonely, aging and sick people reside. Open your heart to them. By helping others, you'll help yourself.

I know people who take their therapy pets to nursing homes and group homes for homeless children, where they allow their pets to minister unto the elderly and sick, to touch people's lives. I know others who take gift baskets to nursing homes. And others who play music for those who are handicapped or bedfast.


Tip 5

5. Take your dog to obedience class.

You'll meet other dog owners and you can participate in fun meets and obedience trials. Note: Avoid using your pet as a substitute for human companionship. But a happy, healthy dog can help you yuo stop loneliness by introducing you to new friends!

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Tip 6 

6. Go to your house of worship and get involved.

There will be programs you can participate in and people to meet, classes to join and special services to attend. You'll find caring people who can help you to make new friends and connections. Reach out in kindness to other lonely people in the religious community. You will stop loneliness or it will subside!


Kind Girl holding hands with elderly womanTaking time to express kindness can make a huge difference in someone's life, including your own

Tip 7

7. Find someone in your life to help in some way. Sometimes just being a good listener will make lots of new friends for you. Find someone who lives on your street or in your apartment house who might welcome your friendship and strike up a conversation.  For information on our Cure loneliness Email Course, a unique course designed to help you learn new anti-loneliness traits and skills, go here. 

Offer your assistance. Give of your time. You'll get closer to those you are helping and, chances are, you'll meet others in the process. And you won't feel lonely while you are with others. 


Tip 8

8. Visit your local coffee shop and join in the conversations, when the opportunity presents itself to stop loneliness.

Get to know the employees and customers, and let them get to know you. Stop in on a regular basis, and soon you'll have a home away from home, where you can always be a part of a good social setting.  Be gregarious, even if you are shy. All you have to do is ask someone what kind of interesting drink they have, or talk about the news or weather. Engage in conversations -- they are loneliness busters!


Tip 9

9. Read the local newspaper, your church bulletin or an online ezine -- reading is good for the brain and most people find it very stimulating. 

You'll feel more a part of the world by keeping up with current events. And there are always stories about local groups and organizations which may be of interest to you, and offer you an opportunity to meet people. Don't forget, you can learn about other anecdotes for loneliness and depression and discover how taking a 14-Day email course on how to stop loneliness can help you to find new friends, build happy relationships and connect yourself to a new and joyful life. 

Tip 10

10. Offer to teach a class or workshop at the local YMCA or community education center. By engaging with a subject you like and sharing it with others your brain will change. You'll have more serotonin in your brain and you'll feel better. 

Chances are, you have a skill or area of expertise that others are interested in learning. You'll enjoy the social contact you'll experience. Share your knowledge and skill with others. How good you'll feel! And you'll be able to stop loneliness or decrease it. 


Tip 11

11. Inquire about membership in a civic organization.

There are many worthwhile organizations that may be of interest to you. Ask if you can sit in on a meeting to decide if you'd like to join. A friend of mine dealt with the loss of her husband, due to cancer, by joining Habit For Humanity. Every time she helped build a house she had a great time and felt connected to others in a meaningful way, and you will have the perspective to stop loneliness.



Tip 12

12. Participate in constructive chat rooms and blogs on subjects of your interest, and keep up with others on the Internet. But beware not to overdo it. Nothing replaces real live friends with whom you can interact in person.


Tip 13

13. To stop loneliness take a part-time job in a restaurant or other business where you can meet and serve people and take an interest in other employees. You'll have opportunities to meet and work with others, and make new friends. And you won't be home worrying or feeling sorry for yourself. 

Tip 14

14. Avoid being a stranger and let your light shine. There are people out there who want and need to know you, but you have to look for them! Let's say you go to the bookstore and you open the door for others, strike up a conversation or tell someone about a book you've read. You are taking a small but important step toward feeling more connected to others and stopping loneliness because you'll be in a positive social setting. 

Go out of your way to introduce yourself to others and show an interest in others. Wherever you go, take your best (and most outgoing) personality along with you . . . and use it to interact with people. Research says that outgoing people are less lonely than others.

For example, if you go to a nearby walking track, which is frequented by lots of people in your community . . . instead of keeping to yourself and avoiding social contact, speak to other walkers and enter into conversations with them. Soon someone will warm up to you, and you'll have a nice, rewarding discussion. Going there several times a week will allow you to keep up your new relationships with others who exercise and give you the opportunity to meet new people.

You don't have to be an extrovert to let your light shine and befriend others. In turn, they will be friends to you.


Tip 15

15. Find ways to make yourself more appealing or interesting to others to stop loneliness. All of us have a few flaws. Identify yours and work to change them, thus making yourself more attractive to others. One very good way you can be a better person is to just be yourself, and take an interest in others, listen and try to understand them. People will gravitate toward you, thus creating possibilities for meaningful connection. 

A bias for action will get you to go out and meet others, even if don't feel like it at first

The Power Of Good Deeds

Good deeds always come back to us in surprising ways. They open doors for us in their own good time. As you open your arms to others, you'll develop a kinship with many people. Soon you'll feel less lonely. And you'll be a part of others' lives in a most significant and important way. Go where you are needed, serve others, find creative ways to give your love, help someone in need, make someone's day, and make something good happen . . . you won't be so lonely!

Sometimes the hardest part about being lonely is feeling so down in the dumps you just can't imagine a possible solution.

It's possible to reach out and help others, even if you don't feel like I t. In fact, doing so will make you feel better! Any time you help someone or try to make a difference in some small way, you will glow from within. Please don't overlook the power of good deeds to make you feel better and bring you closer to others. 

We never feel lonely when we are serving others. Stop loneliness by doing for those who can benefit from your attention. 

What to do?

Feelings of loneliness can seem overpowering, but you don't have to give in to them. Learn not to give into negative thoughts or expectations. Lonely feelings can gang up on you, and cause you to think you're getting snowed under by an avalanche of pessimism and hopelessness. Instead, think positively: there are steps you can take to defeat the loneliness you're experiencing. Talk to yourself about it. 

And second, do something constructive! Loneliness happens to almost everyone at times, but the key is how you react. So, do something helpful. Act! Don't allow yourself to sit around and complain. Get up and make something happen. Just do it! Go and do a good dead. Initiate a conversation. Call someone. Make a connection of some kind. Do something worthwhile.

If you follow this plan, you'll forget about being lonely and stop focusing your energy on lonely thoughts and feelings. And you'll soon find  your loneliness disappearing.

In Sum

Try any one of these fifteen anti-loneliness tips and you'll soon be making a little progress and feeling just a bit better. Then, you can try any of the other techniques to get back on the path of establishing and maintaining positive connections. You'll be feeling better . . . and closer to others . . . in no time.