What relationship might loneliness and depression have?

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Loneliness can increase the amount of cortisol in the body, affecting the immune system. Prolonged loneliness can also affect mental health. The condition can make one or more symptoms worse, and can even develop more serious mental health conditions including depression.

1. The relationship between loneliness and depression

Identifying the cause of emotional distress is always a good first step to managing unwanted feelings. So the short answer is yes: What matters is whether you are dealing with loneliness or depression.
Loneliness and depression have similar feelings, so it's not always easy to spot an end and a beginning.
However, you may notice some of the following problems:
Restlessness and irritability Mental stupidity Low energy Lack of confidence Change your appetite in a different direction or change Sleep Aches and Pains The biggest difference between loneliness and depression is that depression is a mental health condition, while loneliness is a feeling that tends to overwhelm you like depression.
Loneliness may not make you feel good but it is a fleeting emotional state specifically related to your need to connect and belong. Once you meet those needs, you'll likely feel less alone.
On the other hand, manifestations of depression are not only related to the need for connection. Without treatment for these symptoms from a mental health professional, symptoms of depression can last for years and become more severe.
Furthermore, if you are depressed, social interaction can temporarily distract you but is not always helpful. Even while spending time with your partner or best friend, you may continue to feel listless, empty, and unable to participate.
Another key difference: Depression can affect your interest in socializing, making it hard to reach. You may feel worthless, guilty, or believe that other people don't want to spend time with you. Depression can also drain you, leaving you with no energy to try to connect.

2. Can loneliness eventually turn into depression?

Depression is a complex mental health condition that often develops from a combination of several factors. However, feeling socially isolated or unsatisfied with your relationships can play a role. However, social isolation does not necessarily translate into loneliness.
Some people who live alone and don't see people often may not feel lonely. However, others may spend time with people every day and still feel lonely all the time. These feelings of loneliness, when left unaddressed, can eventually lead to depression and other mental health concerns.

2.1. The role of self-image

Recent research indicates that self-loathing is a potential link between loneliness and depression. Maybe your friends haven't had much time to hang out lately or don't seem interested when you see them. When you feel lonely, perhaps a little hurt, you start looking for answers, and self-loathing sets in.
Self-loathing can be related to negative feelings or harsh judgments towards specific actions or the whole self.

2.2. Coping with loneliness

First you can use solutions: You just need to go out more often and make more friends. These steps definitely increase your chances of making meaningful connections. However, being alone does not necessarily lead to loneliness.
To deal with loneliness effectively, you'll usually need to dig a little deeper to find the underlying causes. As such, you can be guided to deepen your understanding of what is missing from your relationships, allowing you to build more fulfilling connections.

2.3. Check your current relationships

You may feel lonely in a crowd. If you've had a lot of relationships with people in your life and are still feeling lonely, you might want to consider the quality of those interactions.
To what extent do you spend time with others? If you just exist together without really relating to each other, your interactions may not meet your social needs.
Instead of simply sitting in the same room watching TV or looking at your phone, try making a more meaningful connection:
Start a conversation about current events or topics other important to you. Call or visit loved ones instead of sending a quick text. Participate in activities that allow you to learn more about your friends. Join a sport, get out in nature, or work on a project together.

2.4. Do what you love

Spending your time on activities you don't enjoy can contribute to unhappiness and boredom. These feelings of sadness may not directly cause loneliness, but can contribute to life dissatisfaction and affect how you feel when you spend time with others.
You should spend your free time doing the things you love. Hobbies are an important aspect of self-care, helping to improve your outlook and give you more energy to build meaningful connections and relationships. Your hobbies can also expose you to other people who enjoy similar activities, opening the door to more satisfying relationships.

2.5. Show compassion and kindness

Positive talking and replacing self-criticism can help you believe that you are worthy of love and friendship, and are more likely to actively seek these out.
If you struggle with narcissism, imagine what you might say to a friend who is judging yourself harshly. Try asserting yourself in a similar way to increase your sense of worthiness and positive self-esteem, and you should also have a stronger sense of self-worth that can pave the way to meaningful relationships. more meaningful.

2.6. Emotional regulation

It's completely normal to feel self-loathing, despair and other negative feelings from time to time. But how you deal with those feelings can make a difference.
Researchers who have explored the link between loneliness and depression show that suppressing or suppressing unwanted thoughts can help reduce their impact. So, when a friend doesn't pick up, try reorganizing your thoughts, "They don't want to talk to me" to "Maybe they're busy, so I'll try again later."
Accepting reality in your mind can also help you feel more comfortable with disturbing thoughts. Mindfulness, one of the helpful methods, can help you learn to accept these thoughts and then let them go before they affect your perception of yourself.

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Reference source: healthline.com