College can be an exhilarating experience: the late-night parties, the endless list of clubs to join and the thousands of students to meet. People may even say your college years will be the best years of your life, so what happens when it feels like you are the only one who does not belong?
Do not worry. You are not the only one feeling that way.
Loneliness is a problem many college students face. An American College Health Association survey found that 51.9% of college students scored positive for loneliness.
“I believe the unspoken part of college is feeling lonely,” Kennesaw State student and Young Democratic Socialists of America Co-President Theresa Washington said.
“I think so many people say, ‘Oh, just put yourself out there,'” Washington said. “Yeah, you can do that, but do you really want to all the time? I know I don’t.”
According to Stanford University Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education Science Director Emma Seppälä, loneliness is not actually related to the number of friends someone has. Instead, the key to feeling less lonely is developing an internal sense of connection to others, Seppälä said.
According to Seppälä, the first step toward feeling less lonely is accepting any negative emotions you are feeling and allowing yourself to experience them, even if it is uncomfortable.
Other strategies to reduce loneliness include taking care of one’s physical health, meditating, showing kindness toward others and appreciating alone time, Seppälä said.
According to Nationally Certified Counselor Rob Danzman, causes for feelings of isolation could include students feeling out of place in a new environment or comparing themselves to others’ seemingly perfect lives on social media.
“Never compare yourself to others who seem to have it all together,” Washington said. “It’s so easy to get in a rut over other people. Embrace all the weird qualities you have and don’t be afraid to put them on display.”
For those looking to meet new friends, Danzman recommends actively seeking new social connections instead of simply waiting for them to happen. According to Danzman, popular options for socializing in college include sororities, fraternities and clubs.
However, meeting new people is not the only way to combat feelings of loneliness, and students may still feel isolated even after trying these options, Danzman said.
Counseling is another option for students struggling with feelings of isolation. KSU Counseling and Psychological Services offer a variety of mental health treatments, including free counseling to all KSU students. Students can also receive mental health support by calling Wellbeing@KSU at 470-578-6600, which is available 24 hours a day.
