Through the Millennial Lens: Are We in a Loneliness Epidemic?

The need to connect with others is an innate, evolutionary drive in humans. In our current post-pandemic era, a new epidemic has emerged as a consequence of these challenging times: loneliness.

Loneliness isn't always easy to pinpoint, and can impact us in different ways at different stages of life. As a millennial, loneliness can manifest itself in different ways. We can experience the post-breakup loneliness, the isolation of starting a new job, or even the solitude experienced while working from home despite being surrounded by family, roommates, or children. The feeling of loneliness  can come and go, taking many forms that can make it all the more confusing to navigate. It can already be a struggle to identify when we’re experiencing a stint of loneliness, but the social pressure on millennials to not feel lonely in a world with social media certainly doesn’t help. Let’s hear from some more millennials on this topic. In this video, millennials are asked three questions. What does loneliness feel like? When do you feel lonely the most? Am I lonely sometimes?  Click the video below to explore. 

Contrary to popular beliefs of mental health professionals, loneliness isn’t about not having anyone in your life, or the physical circumstance of being alone on a Friday night for example. Millennial singles who live alone may experience no yearning for others, just as the millennials  surrounded by friends and loved ones may still feel the pain of loneliness. However, we have been  socially conditioned to  associate loneliness with being socially alienated. This is why we have grossly underestimated this expanding epidemic  of loneliness amongst millennials and Gen Z’s, despite their hyper-connectivity through modern day media. 

During a time like this, feelings of loneliness can be heightened as people can be made more aware of how alone they really feel. During holidays like Valentine’s Day, this is an intensified time where millennials can see others enjoying spending time with family, significant others or attending social events online. This can make them compare their own situation to others. Have you ever felt this way? 

Loneliness plays a massive role in a person's mental health and can manifest itself in numerous ways. Time spent alone and loneliness are not the same. Loneliness  can cause us to feel isolated and overwhelmed, often leading to increased distress due to negative thoughts and feelings. Loneliness risks distress in the forms of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, poor health behaviour like disordered eating, substance use, and poor sleep quality. During the pandemic millennials  may have had feelings of hopelessness or paranoia, especially for those that might not have had a village of family or friends during the lockdown. An effect of this was the insurgence of social media use by millennials. It comes as no surprise  that the generation that is “digitally fluent”  is now looking for an outlet  online for their loneliness. What do you think about this topic?  If you relate to these experiences, consider exploring new coping strategies with our coach at Cultivating Healthy Relationships by booking a session. Let’s continue the conversation on navigating loneliness in today’s interconnected yet isolating world.

“Until next time, Happy Cultivating!”