how to keep going when healing feels lonely
Healing isn’t easy. You’ve made a decision to become a better, healthier you. But that comes with challenges.
You may miss a person. You could backtrack. You can notice all the things you’ve previously allowed in your life and become angry with yourself. You may even feel sad or depressed in the process. All those feelings are very normal.
One challenge we don’t talk about enough is the isolation and loneliness that comes with healing. Especially in those cases where you’re healing from a breakup, you’re losing a person that you hung out with and saw often in the process. That can be daunting and isolating.
When healing starts to feel lonely, journal your growth to motivate you, find a method or person to keep you accountable and lean on others for extra company.
pushing on with healing when you want to stop going
There may be times you feel down or sad about where you are in your healing journey. There may be times you want to quit and abandon your efforts. There may be times you question why you’re even putting all this effort in to be a better you.
Journal all the ways you’ve grown so far in your healing journey. In those moments you feel extra lonely, it’s nice to have something to look back on and something to motivate you to keep pushing. Sometimes we don’t realize all the progress we’ve made until we’re really examining it.
Find a way to keep yourself accountable. This could look like reaching out to friends or an accountability buddy when you feel like you’re going to relapse or go backwards in your healing journey. This could be keeping a count of how you’re doing, such as in a habit tracker or no contact journal.
Lean on others when you need some company. Make extra plans or hangouts with your friends and family when you feel the loneliness creep in. It’s okay to distract yourself when needed. Go out for dinner or go out on the town.
how to cope with loneliness and isolation
Loneliness is something we’ve all experienced before -- it’s a universal experience that’s hard to escape. Whether you're feeling lonely in a new city or environment, or you’re feeling lonely and neglected in a relationship, there are so many layers to this feeling.
When you’re feeling lonely, it can lead to negative thoughts about yourself or situation, as well as sad or depressing emotions involving your relationships with friends and family. It’s never a good feeling, and it truly sucks knowing that you feel alone in a world as big as this.
If you’re experiencing loneliness in the healing process, explore hobbies and solo activities you like, try to be open to friendships in spaces you’re already in and don’t let people make you feel bad about your loneliness.
Additionally, keep in mind that constant thoughts and blaming others for your loneliness isn’t productive. Don’t spend time blaming the end of a relationship, growing apart from your friends or even family problems for your loneliness.
I also challenge you to be open to exploring the spaces that you’re already in and making an effort to befriend people in those spaces. It can be hard to expand your friend group or meet new like minded people, but let’s start somewhere you already have to be.
additional content: how to deal with being lonely
feeling comfortable in your loneliness
I really had to learn how to be comfortable with myself long term in my healing process. I often crave those times when I can do things with other people, but I’ve also learned to love my free time.
Too often, I feel embarrassed to admit that I feel alone because I feel like it makes me look weak or like I can’t handle my healing process. Sometimes I even contribute to the negative talk and think those things about myself.
In those moments, remind yourself that it’s normal to have these feelings. Remember that healing can be lonely and isolating. Comfort yourself and give yourself grace.
Sit in the solitude and observe what you notice as you spend valuable time with yourself. What thoughts are you gravitating toward? What actions or temptations are drawing you in? What are you learning in this period?
Feel comfortable basking in isolation. It’s okay for it to feel uncomfortable. Remind yourself that you are growing, and this is a necessary step to healing.
loneliness affirmations during healing and growth
When you feel isolated and lonely, speak softly and kindly to yourself. Remind yourself this timing is temporary, and you’re constantly growing during this process.
Loneliness is just a space between who I was and who I am becoming.
My solitude is a sacred time for self reflection and healing.
This season of loneliness is preparing me for a deeper connection with myself and others.
I allow myself to feel lonely without letting it define me.
Every moment alone is a chance to nurture the love I have for myself.
I trust that this space of solitude will lead to my greatest growth.
Even in loneliness, I am evolving into a stronger, wiser version of myself.
My heart is healing, and I am learning to fill my own empty spaces with love.
The quiet moments are where I plant the seeds of my future joy.
I release the fear of loneliness and embrace the transformation it brings.
additional content: 50 affirmations for when you’re feeling lonely
