Living Alone In Lockdown & Mental Health

Living alone has it’s ups and downs, at first living alone, is exhilarating. It means doing whatever you want and whenever you want. I stayed up binge-watching series, worked on my blogs with no interruptions. It was a fun and freeing experience until the freedom to go outside and go wherever I wanted to be was taken away. Coronavirus meant for the foreseeable future, I will be spending a lot more time at home or rather on the lookout and be more cautious. After a few weeks, though, I noticed my mood change.  I missed having people around. Call me extra, needy or whatever! There is nothing more depressing than waking up to the same scenery, probably do the same routine, stare at the wall and realize you are only 2 hours into the new day. Living alone can be lonely!

I was reading this article by Gary Kennedy on The Doctor’s Table blog, where he said the simple reality from birth to old age is that we need one another to regulate not only our emotions but bodies as well. Studies, including one published by Brigham Young University researchers, suggest that loneliness, isolation and living alone can be threatening to health as much as cigarettes, excess alcohol and obesity. Due to the national lockdown there has been social isolation that results in a lack of opportunities for social engagement and mental stimulation, activities that are thought of to keep our brains active and in good condition to reduce the risk of dementia.

Does living alone increase mental risk?

Yes, it does! According to a study living alone is linked to common mental disorders. Some include anxiety, mood disorders and substance use disorders. Sadly, most of us tick all boxes, whether we are literally alone or feel alone among people. How many boxes did you tick? It’s crazy, you can have fluctuation of emotions, staying healthy mentally can become a problem. I apologize in advance if I call more, as usual, withdraw into myself more often and sleep early or later than usual. Blame it on living alone.

Warning signs to watch for:

• Mood changes
• Avoiding others
• Change in eating or sleeping habits
• Crying spells
• Need to talk to others more frequently than usual

It’s #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, and the theme is ‘Kindness’. Check up on your friends, family and partners that live alone, it can get lonely sometimes. A good morning message and validation can go a long way.