The post The Labyrinth of Loneliness appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Splashing over my toes came a little white wave
And away it washed the footprints I tried to save.
The tide constantly swept them off
But I went on and on.

Day faded.
Sunlight slipped away.
Once again, everything turned dark and grey.
Suddenly, waves became louder than my thoughts;
The boat my eyes trailed was lost.
I saw every bit sinking to a new low
As if it was the final blow.

My heart almost drowned in an ocean of despair
When in a flash, a glimmer of light appeared, yielding hope beyond compare.
Euphoric, I couldn’t contain my delight 
And gazed up at the sky, where the Pole star shone bright.

Then again I looked back on the boat I’d seen, sailing in sight 
Led by the lighthouse to the path that was right
It’s easy to feel that hope is gone,
To feel lost and alone.
But an awake heart is like a lighthouse.
Helping others to find a safe way home.

The post Beacon appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Feeling left out and lonely can be incredibly tough, especially after losing a close friend. It is important to recognize and accept your feelings. It is okay to feel hurt, lonely, or left out. Writing in a journal about your emotions can help you process them better. Try to reach out to other friends or acquaintances, even though it may be very hard initially. Sometimes people might not realize you are feeling left out. A simple conversation or spending time with someone new can help you feel more connected. Getting involved in activities or hobbies you love can be a great way to meet new people and take your mind off feelings of loneliness. Remember, you are not alone. Many people go through periods of loneliness and feeling left out. It is a common experience. Talking about your feelings and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Building new connections and finding ways to cope with loneliness can take time. Take care of yourself, and allow yourself to heal and grow from this experience.

The post I feel left out appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Five minutes of reading a day is as valuable to mental well-being as walking 10,000 steps and eating five portions of fruit and vegetables is to our physical health, according to research commissioned by the Queen’s Reading Room, a literary project led by the U.K.’s Queen Camilla, to promote the power and benefits of reading.

The study found that just five minutes of reading a work of fiction immediately reduced stress in participants by nearly 20%. “A short period of reading can actually help us better manage our stress, significantly increasing our concentration and improving our ability to focus on the next task. Those five minutes really can make the rest of our day better,” says Vicki Perrin, chief executive of the Queen’s Reading Room. “We found that high frequency readers are significantly less likely to experience feelings of loneliness — important not just for the health of society, but because leading research tells us that loneliness can increase the likelihood of different dementias.”

Queen Camilla, an avid reader, highlighted the research: “Just as we always suspected, books are good for us — and now science is proving us right!”

The post Five minutes of reading a day keeps the blues away appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Growing up isn’t easy! Being a teenager means having a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. It’s understandable to feel frustrated and lonely when you can’t find an empathetic ear. Don’t lose hope because you can help yourself feel better. Here’s what you can do when no one understands how you feel:

1. It’s okay to be not okay

Feeling misunderstood is upsetting. Often, our immediate response is to get over the feelings of unhappiness as fast as we can. And that’s where the problem begins. Feelings don’t go away when they are swept under the rug or buried. It is important to acknowledge that you’re feeling gloomy. Take a minute to be okay with not being okay, because nobody in the world is a hundred per cent happy all the time.

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

The post 5 things to do when no one understands how you feel appeared first on The Teenager Today.

The post Darkness, my only companion appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Dear Meena,

You’re feeling quite frustrated and lonely that your mother is emotionally distant even though she is living with you.

The phone seems to have become a lifeline for her. Perhaps she feels that since all is well at home, she can attend to others! She may also be worried about your father. Empathize with her: “You feel happy to connect with dad and your friends on phone, isn’t it?” “The phone is quite a lifeline in these times!”

When you do the household chores, try to get closer to your mother and know her as a person. Ask: What are you thinking about _? What are your views about? Connect over movies, music, news, likes and dislikes.

If you can’t get through to her, share your feelings: “I feel quite lonely and insecure when I don’t get to spend quality time with you.” Suggest: “How about setting aside a family hour each day? Then, we will get quality time with each other, and you will get time to be on the phone, as well.”

While it may take a bit of time…don’t give up! However, if after sometime it doesn’t work, seek help from a trusted adult.

The post I feel very lonely and suffocated appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Loneliness is a complex situation and is different from being alone. You can be alone by choice and use that opportunity to be creative and productive. Being lonely is usually not by choice; it is a self-conscious emotional isolation making the lonely one consciously aware that something important is missing in life. Regardless of any definition, the problem is painful and we cannot dismiss the pain by running away from the problem.

Loneliness may be caused through the loss of a dear one or by rejection by a group which results in lack of self-esteem.

Lonely people are often timid, they hesitate to take action and pity themselves. So they communicate less. Finally, there is a cold war in relationships and thereafter a breakdown. Outwardly they are happy and radiant, but inwardly they are crying.

During the Second World War when Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, among others, they took seven Americans as prisoners and kept them in solitary confinement without any contact with the outside world. When they were released after the war, it was found that they had all tortured themselves by biting their tongues, pulling out their hair and beards or scratching the skin off their bodies with their long nails. These men were victims of loneliness.

Today, many elderly die due to loneliness while the young commit suicide because of it. Mother Teresa used to constantly remind us that the greatest suffering of a human being is that of loneliness — feeling unwanted and unloved.

Loneliness demands sympathy and approval. So look at yourself and others to see if you detect the following symptoms of loneliness:

1. Retreating into the past: Imagining and dreaming of the things that might have been.
2. Self-imposed busyness: Workaholics who are constantly busy and want others also to be like them.
3. Getting away from it all: Constantly leaving one activity and joining another.
4. Meaningless socializing: Wanting to be seen with the elite and moving in high society.
5. Meaningless imitation: Trying to imitate others rather than be themselves.
6. Getting high: Trying to escape through alcohol or drugs.
7. Being funny: Saying funny things loudly at a party or gathering in order to gain attention.

Many people intentionally project an image of loneliness in order to get the attention of others or of some particular person. This leads to real loneliness and self- destruction.

Read the full article by subscribing to the print magazine or the digital edition.

The post Winning over loneliness appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Dear Thejaswi,

It seems like you are feeling lonely in your new hostel and college, and are missing your friends and family.

From what you say, I understand that your friends in Intermediate were girls, and you spent a lot of time doing things together. But, now you are in a co-ed professional college, where students do a lot of independent work and are focused on their academic, and later career goals. Three months is a short time; give yourself a few more months to adjust and feel fully settled in.

When you constantly think about what is not working, it can make you feel emotionally weak. Instead, use this time more constructively. Firstly, set yourself a routine for your studies and free time. In your free time, find out what you can do on your own — going for walks, exploring the campus or shopping areas, reading, and more.

Spend time discovering what your interests and strengths are. Your interests can help you to participate in campus activities and meet like-minded people, as well as to start up a conversation. Not having a steady group can provide an opportunity to know so many more people!

Take this time on your own as a learning opportunity which will help you become a strong, independent young woman!

The post I’ve becoming emotionally weak appeared first on The Teenager Today.

When I think about loneliness, I picture a lone little sparrow perched on a bench in front of the glorious sea. She’s in the most magnificent place to take in the sunset as it drops on the horizon. But, she’s too distracted to even take note of the marvellous work of nature unfurl before her. What is she distracted by, you ask?

Well, the thing is, although there was immense beauty right before her, this little sparrow was busy looking around. She wanted to spot another sparrow that she could share this moment with. Her gaze fell upon children building castles in the sand, a couple walking hand in hand along the shore and even a lone dove. No, she thought, this isn’t what I’m looking for, while she continued to feel forlorn. Head hanging low, the tiny birdie didn’t even realise when the moment had passed and she missed the sunset that day. As she looked at the children gleefully pack their toys, the couple whisper sweet nothings as they gazed at each other and the dove fly away blissfully in the deep blue sky, she felt more alone than ever. Never mind, she said, maybe tomorrow there will be someone I can share this beautiful sunset with.

Little birdie got you thinking?

The sparrow is just like you and me. So often, we’re busy figuring out things that we lose sight of the real picture. We long for someone to share our happiness, to be a shoulder we can unburden on, to have a few laughs with or just be ourselves with. It’s indeed lovely to be surrounded by people we can call our own, but what if we’ve left some of these people behind because of small niggling issues? What if we’re the ones that have been left behind because of misunderstandings? What if you have a beautiful circle of friends and still feel slightly left out?

The L word strikes all of us at some point or the other. We’re referring to loneliness here, and no matter what age or stage you’re at, there’s a fair chance you’ll be susceptible to its pull. Do you know why this happens? Because it’s easy, it’s easy to give in to loneliness, to draw yourself away from everything and everyone and nestle in a quiet bubble. You’ll be perfectly content with where you are and before you know it, it will become normal for you to feel this way.

Read the full article by subscribing to the print magazine or the digital edition.

The post Let go of loneliness, hold onto love appeared first on The Teenager Today.