RDC Center - Dealing with Loneliness

Dealing with Loneliness

"Autumn . . . brisk, brilliant and glorious;
Autumn . . . bare trees, frost and shorter daylight hours"

For different people, Autumn means different things. While many eagerly anticipate relief from the heat and humidity of summer, for others, Autumn seems to bring a feeling of sadness, a sadness that seems to recur each year and tends to disappear when the first crocus announces the advent of Spring.

For some the longer hours of darkness, the cold and the trees bereft of foliage may evoke memories of times when life was shrouded in darkness because of a loss, a separation or a defeat.

What can one do when a pervasive mood of sadness seems to be in control?

This is a time to

Share thoughts and feelings with a friend; a time to be with friends.
Draw on your inherent creative powers and express your feelings in poetry, stories, music or art. Recall that much of the world's great art, music and literature came from the minds and hearts of men and women whose lives were dogged by sadness and sorrow.
Keep a journal. It can be very helpful. By recording our experiences of life, thoughts, feelings, relationships, etc., we can effect insight and growth in self-understanding.

What if you feel so depressed that you have difficulty eating, sleeping, working, or continuing relationships with the people with whom you ordinarily associate?

The best course of action in this case is to consult a psychiatrist. Many excellent medications are available that can be prescribed only by a doctor. Serious depressive states are often the result of a chemical imbalance. Newer medications can restore the delicate balance and allow a person to live a normal life.

When in doubt, it is wise to seek directions from a professional counselor.

By Joan Haley, RDC Counselor - Taken from the Fall 1998 issue of "RDC Center On You,"