It’s normal to feel lonely sometimes. It can happen anytime, anywhere and to anyone. It can seem difficult to cope when you’re feeling lonely, but we have a few tips below which may help.
About loneliness
Everyone can feel lonely sometimes.While it might feel tough, it’s normal to feel lonely at times and doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you.
People might think being lonely means not having many friends or family in your life, but you can have lots of social contact and support and still feel lonely. If you’re lacking a sense of connection with those around you, or that these relationships don’t feel genuine or meaningful, you might feel lonely.
Is loneliness a mental health problem?
Feeling lonely isn’t a mental health problem on its own, but it can change how you feel about yourself.
When you feel lonely, you might feel like your mood is lower or feel bad about yourself.
If you’re struggling with your mental health, feeling lonely might make it harder to be around people, which can feel even more isolating. You might:
-
Avoid seeing people, attending social events, or doing activities you normally like.
-
Have low self-esteem.
-
Find it tricky to try new things or meet new people.
-
Find it difficult to talk about how you’re feeling out of fear of stigma.
-
Find busy places like work, public spaces, events, or parties overwhelming.
However you’re feeling, there are things you can try to help.
Tips for when you feel lonely
There are lots of different ways you can help yourself feel less lonely.
Some people find these tips useful but remember that everyone is different. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself and only do what you feel comfortable with right now. You can always come back to this page another time.
Focus on self-care and being comfortable in your own company
Many people find that feeling lonely is linked to low self-esteem or self-confidence.
Getting used to spending time on your own, and being comfortable in your own company, is a great way to help build your self-confidence, especially if you’re feeling lonely.
Not sure where to start? Or feeling like spending time on your own is making you feel low? Why not think about self-care and what it means to you.
Self-care might look like doing something you enjoy on your own, like reading, writing, doing a sport, or cooking a meal from scratch. Think about what makes you feel good, calm, or cosy, or different things you enjoy.
Whatever it is, taking some time for yourself, enjoying your own company, and being kind to yourself can really help build your self-esteem and confidence.
Remember:
-
It’s okay to take this time for yourself.
-
It’s okay to try different things and see which of them make you feel good.
-
To try and be kind and patient with yourself.
Take it slowly
If you’ve been feeling lonely, you might find the thought of socialising, joining a group, or trying to meet people overwhelming.
Take it slow and try not to put too much pressure on yourself.
You could start off small by making short conversations with people you come across in your life already. For example, you could try saying hello to someone you sit next to in a lesson.
Join a club or group
Being around people who you have a shared interest with can be an easier way to meet people.
You could try joining a sports club, creative group like writing or knitting, or join a local gym.
You could also try joining a youth club or group to try and meet more young people. Try searching 'youth groups' to see a list of clubs local to you or speak to a trusted adult or friend who might be able to help you find something.
You might feel nervous to start join a new group, but clubs are a great way to meet similar people, are usually very welcoming, and have new people join all the time.
Try volunteering
Volunteering can be a great way to meet new people, build your confidence, learn new skills, and spend some time on something that is important to you.
Why not see if any of your local charity shops, libraries, or schools are looking for young volunteers?
Social media
Sometimes it can feel hard to know people who are in a similar situation to you, and social media can sometimes be a good place to reach out to people who understand your experiences.
It can also be a good tool to use if you’re finding talking to people in person tricky. Messaging your friends privately online can be a nice space to start a conversation about how you are feeling.
Social media can have its drawbacks though. Some young people find that being online can make them feel lonelier, especially if they are comparing themselves with other people’s picture-perfect lives.
If being on social media helps you feel less lonely and find community, that’s great. But if social media is making you feel worse, you could read our social media and mental health guide for more advice.
Open-up to the people in your life
It can be hard to open-up or chat to someone about how you’re feeling if you feel like you don’t have a meaningful relationship with them.
Why not start with thinking about what you might say beforehand. You could write this down or plan your message on your notes app on your phone.
And remember, you don’t always have to talk face-to-face. You could send them a message or chat over social media.
Find support if you are struggling
Feeling lonely can happen to anyone. But, if your feelings are overwhelming and making you unhappy, it might be useful to talk to someone. There's advice below on people you might be able to talk to, or other places you could go for support.
Advice from young people
You can never truly tell what's going on in other people's lives and there could easily be someone you know who also feels lonely.
Young person
Put yourself out there, step out of your comfort zone and talk to everyone. It's scary but you will find your friends and thank yourself later.
Young person
Get support and advice
Even though it can sometimes feel like it, you aren’t alone. There is lots of support out there for you.
You could try and talk to:
-
An adult that you trust.
-
A doctor.
-
A teacher you trust.
-
Your social worker if you have one.
If you’re struggling to find support or feel like you don’t have someone to talk to, there are other ways you can get support and advice.
Looking after yourself
Self-care is a bit of a buzzword in today’s world, but what does it actually mean, and how do you find out what works for you?
How to access support
We are all wonderfully unique, which is why the right support will look different to everyone. There are lots of types of support, it’s all about finding out what’s going to be best for you.
Identity and who you are
Your identity is made up of lots of different things – a unique set of characteristics which make you, you. Having a sense of it can help give you a foundation to feel more settled and secure in yourself.
All of the information on this page was created with practising health professionals. This page was reviewed in April 2025. We will next review the page in 2028.