How can I stop feeling so sad and lonely?

Feeling lonely and isolated must be very upsetting and overwhelming. But please be reassured, you don’t have to be alone.

Feeling very lonely can leave someone in a low mood, sad, unhappy and even depressed. Emotions can seem so overwhelming it may feel difficult to express them to others. But, it may be worth considering if there is someone you could talk to, for example, a friend or family member. People often find that sharing their feelings can help.

Talking to people you know about how you feel will help them to understand what you’re going through, enabling them to support you more effectively. But sometimes people find it easier to speak to someone they don’t know. If you’d like to talk to someone else about how you’ve been feeling in confidence you can call Youth 2 Youth on 020 8896 3675; they provide caring support and advice. If you would prefer, they are also offer confidential support though online chat and by email.

Alternatively, the Samaritans helpline is available 24 hours a day, every day, on 08457 90 90 90. If you are still at school or college there might be a student support officer or a counsellor you could speak to about how you have been feeling.

In addition, it might be worth investing some time in yourself, thinking about the kind of interests you have, what you enjoy doing, or activities you would like to get involved with. From there, you could find out about local clubs or organisations you could join, such as local sports teams, book clubs, music clubs or college societies. Your local council website or library should have further details.

Another option to consider is getting involved with a local organisation, or charity, by volunteering. This is an excellent way of developing both your social and work skills, meeting new people and gaining experience that could benefit your studies or career ambitions. If there is a particular cause that you feel passionately about, volunteering for a relevant organisation can prove very satisfying.

Finally, the internet is a gateway to meeting new people with similar interests, so you might want to consider using it to your advantage. There are chatrooms and discussion boards that cater for many types of people, so it might be worth investigating. Also, don’t forget that you can meet people through The Mix’s discussion boards.

It is understandable if you feel nervous about trying any of these suggestions, but they might be worth considering as a way of boosting your confidence and more importantly, to do something that makes you feel good about yourself.