Studies show that stress and loneliness has been estimated to shorten a person’s life by 15 years!
This is equivalent in impact to smoking 15 cigarettes per day.
Now let’s clear one thing up briefly -loneliness isn’t the same thing as being alone. Some solitude is good for you and in fact we should have moments of solitude built into our day so that we can think in a non-distracted environment
Many people feel very lonely while going through a divorce and even after.
Just think about it You spent your time with your spouse.
You made plans with your spouse.
You were raising kids with your spouse
And now what started as a partnership is ending a single endeavor.
Many people feel that they deserve to be lonely or they feel pressured to jump into a new relationship to solve the problem. Both of these are not good solutions. God made us to be in constant communion with others.
So here are two strategies to implement that will help with the loneliness:
- Look for support and community with others that have been through, or are going through the same thing you are dealing with. It’s often a good reminder to know that you’re not alone.
- Plan out a new routine for yourself. Find special things that delight just you and find news ways to get involved with things that inspire you (I.e. take a cooking class , start that small business, volunteer at church etc.)