Sandy Cohen, a writer, health and wellness coach, writes on Shondaland that because loneliness can have serious health consequences, from increased risk of depression, anxiety, and heart disease to early mortality, however, we can combat loneliness by staying connected with our love ones, reconnecting with old friends, and talking to a strangers.

According to Sandy, even before Covid pandemic, 3 in 5 Americans experienced loneliness and the pandemic exacerbated the problem by forcing people to isolate in their homes, keep six feet away from one another, and discover the weirdness of the Zoom happy hour.’

Loneliness was already a public health crisis before the pandemic.

– Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General and author of Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World

Rakhee Alston, a marriage and family therapist based in Los Angeles, told Shondaland “It’s just so different when you meet someone face-to-face. There’s that instant human connection. That’s the element that’s missing. Think about the feeling when you hug someone. How do you get that in a virtual relationship?”

We’ve become so lazy with being able to text that it’s almost like we’ve forgotten how to communicate. Pick up the phone and call. There’s so much you can get from hearing someone’s voice — their tone, their warmth — that you can’t get from messaging someone.

– Rakhee Alston, a marriage and family therapist based in Los Angeles

Sandy Cohen writes:

Relishing memories with old friends, and allowing that energy to inspire you to make contact, is a powerful remedy for loneliness. But what do you say? It could be as simple as “Hey, I was just thinking of you. I know it’s been a while. I miss you and hope you are doing well. Please give me a call when you can.” You could even send a text message. Or write a letter and snail-mail it. The act of reaching out is beneficial in itself, and the potential reconnection is worth a few seconds of awkwardness.