Male loneliness is a leading cause of men's health issues, including heart disease and obesity in older men and men in different age groups. Loneliness can cause depression, anxiety, and lethargy.
Loneliness causes people to feel empty, alone, and unwanted. People who are lonely often crave human contact, but their state of mind makes it more difficult to form connections with other people. Loneliness, according to many experts, is not necessarily about being alone.
Consider working to turn acquaintances into friends. Invite a social media friend who speaks out against toxic masculinity or male loneliness to an outing. Take a more active role in family efforts to grow relationships. Don't rely on women to plan all social outings or reach out to others.
Loneliness is a normal human emotion. Try saying something like “We all need friends. I'm here for you.” Try to reassure them of their value and self worth.
Most men have some level of insecurity. We are afraid to get caught in our insecurities, so we become aggressive toward others or we become passive and hide. We get wrapped up in not getting caught which actually makes us more isolated.
Masculine norms teach men to be tough, brave, and independent from the earliest age. Due to such a mindset, most men fear being perceived as weak or vulnerable, preventing them from reaching out to social contacts and deeply connecting with others. How Does Loneliness Affect Mental Health and Well-Being?
It's characterized by constant and unrelenting feelings of being alone, separated or divided from others, and an inability to connect on a deeper level. It can also be accompanied by deeply rooted feelings of self-doubt, low self-esteem, or social anxiety.
Feeling lonely can also have a negative impact on your mental health, especially if these feelings have lasted a long time. Some research suggests that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep problems and increased stress.
For instance, loneliness is correlated with social anxiety, social inhibition (shyness), sadness, hostility, distrust, and low self-esteem, characteristics that hamper one's ability to interact in skillful and rewarding ways.
Men tend to report higher levels of loneliness than women, with 39% of men living alone experiencing loneliness and one in three men believe that there is no one to help them out if in they're in need.
Be there. Simply being there for them can let them know that someone cares. Don't be afraid to ask them how they are feeling or if there's anything you can do to help. Having someone who is willing to listen could be a great comfort.
Try something like: “I know I can't meet all your needs (or be present as much as you'd like), but I just want to remind you how much you mean to me and that you can count on me. Is there anything you can think of right now that I could say or that we could do that would feel meaningful?”
Everyone around him knows he is depressed. This may not mean a lot to you, except when you are looking at a guy who used to be outspoken and boisterous. ...
The no-contact rule male psychology forces him to recognize his loneliness. After a breakup, if you stop contacting him, he will feel free and enjoy this phase as much as he can. But, with time, the loneliness and guilt pang will start to kick in.