Loneliness Awareness Week: How to deal with feeling lonely after pregnancy loss
10th June 2024
As a society, we’re still not as open, accepting and supportive as we could be when it comes to pregnancy loss. There is still a stigma attached, and you can come across some really difficult and hurtful reactions. For this reason, some people find it really difficult to open up.
As a result, pregnancy loss can sometimes leave you feeling incredibly alone. It might feel like no one understands how you’re feeling, and you might be worried about ‘burdening’ those around you by talking about it as much as you’d like to.
We know some people find socialising after a loss difficult, too, especially if your friends and family have children or are pregnant.
These feelings are incredibly common, and many of our service users tell us they feel this way – so you are not alone.
This Loneliness Awareness Week, we’ve put together some suggestions of how to cope with feeling lonely after pregnancy loss. We hope it might be useful.
- Seek out online communities
One way to be able to talk about your loss and how you’re feeling in an easier, more comfortable way, might be to join an online forum or community of people affected by pregnancy loss. It can be easier to talk about your loss online, or you can read through and not contribute, but sometimes just seeing these posts can be helpful. You may find that people have the same worries or feelings as you.
You might find it easier to reach out to and open up to people you’ve never met online – removing that sense of ‘knowing someone’ can remove the guilt of unloading how you feel.
If you’d like to join an online community, you might like to join our Pregnancy Loss Facebook Group, or follow our Instagram account.
- Try opening up to someone you know
We know it can be difficult to open up to those around you, but often people feel lighter for starting these conversations, and having someone you can go to even if it’s just for some company.
It’s best to make sure it’s someone you can trust, and who you know will be supportive. You may not choose to talk about your loss frequently with them, but sometimes, just knowing that they’re there, and you have the option makes a big difference.
- Read stories from people going through something similar
There can be something comforting about hearing that someone else has gone through a similar experience.
The personal stories on our website cover a wide range of experiences, and there might be a story that really resonates with how you’re feeling, or that gives you hope that things get better with time.
You might find writing your own story helpful – many of our contributors feel the experience of detailing their experience cathartic, even if it can be emotional ‘putting pen to paper’.
- Find ways of spending your time that helps you enjoy your own company
Loneliness might spring up strongest when you’re on your own, or if you’re on leave after your loss. It can be hard finding things to fill your time with, and this can lead to loneliness and anxious thoughts.
Picking up something to occupy your mind, like journalling, baking, walking or colouring can help to soothe these thoughts, and pass time. You may find you enjoy these types of activities and carry them on.
Often, doing something creative or something outside can release endorphins and calm you down, leaving you in a better mood than when you started.
- Reach out to supportive organisations
Sometimes, you just need someone to listen, but you find everyone in your life is busy, or you feel you can’t approach them. For times like these, or if you would just like to talk, you can reach out to us by phone, live chat, email or DM. We’re open from 9am – 4pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and 9am – 8pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
If you need someone outside of these hours, and you’re really struggling, you might like to contact Samaritans, on 116 123.
