The mother of a growing family, once the children have commenced school, can suddenly find that loneliness is creeping in to what was once a busy life. The older parent, sometimes widowed, is suddenly alone without the children who are now involved in their own family life and perhaps neglectful of an aging parent.

How can you cope if loneliness is there and depression is becoming a problem? Some people can survive quite well as loners. They are busy in their own personal lifestyle and don’t need companionship. However, for most people who are alone the problem is there and a solution has to be found.

The symptoms and signs of loneliness include acute depression, withdrawal from the mainstream of life with a feeling of insecurity. With the associated intense concentration on self, ordinary and perfectly normal bodily discomforts such as muscle strain, period pain, indigestion, tiredness, bowel irregularities, headache can build up to unmanageable proportions and produce a chronic psychosomatic illness, which, if allowed to continue, will develop into actual disease.

Problems of diagnosis can arise. Depression can gradually develop, interspersed with an overreaction to the daily problems of life which can lead to a true manic depressive state.

In order to overcome loneliness you have to adopt a positive approach to life which is often easier said than done. Most people shrink back from company. If we brush someone in the street we instinctively say “sorry”. The lonely have just got to seek companionship. Often animals take the place of humans. However human companionship is necessary in most cases and should be the first priority.

It is quite justifiable and sensible for the truly lonely person to seek help from the local doctor who will be able to advise. Don’t attempt to play down your lonely state. It could be the basis of medical problems and should be discussed fully with your doctor.

A child who is developing a lonely withdrawn approach to life should be encouraged to talk problems over with the family doctor. A solution can always be found and a catastrophe can always be prevented.

Organisations are available in the community to help the lonely. Telephone numbers can be found in the Welfare Service section in the front pages of your telephone directory. There is always someone available to talk with in the event of an acute crisis developing as a result of your lonely state.