Behavioural impacts of lonelinessThe behavioural impacts of loneliness extended People act differently when they are lonely and beyond the individual experiencing loneliness; some of these behaviours pose their own barriers for example those experiencing loneliness may for connections. Participants described shutting off also be contributing less to the economy and to from others, engaging or talking less. Friendships their communities. and acquaintances were weakened or lost Unfortunately, many of these physical ‘signs’ altogether, removing for some what little social of loneliness are also fairly hidden, and may be support they had. Some also said that when they symptomatic of other personal issues – making it were connecting with others less, or felt more difficult to identify people who are feeling affected lonely, they also took less care of their appearance and in need of support. It may be that focusing on and hygiene, describing how they ‘couldn’t be points of transition (see Chapter 3) in combination bothered’ or ‘didn’t have the energy’.with attention to these ‘warning signs’ may be a ”If you could get a camera and show yourself useful way in for those that want to identify and support people experiencing loneliness. the diference in conidence you would be surprised, but you sit for 20 minutes in a conversation with friends and you think Identity crisis faced by those you’re alright, but you have not spoken in experiencing chronic loneliness that time. You may be sat there listening but you’re not participating.” As noted in Chapter 1, when people are experiencing loneliness they are often also (Divorced/separated, Male, Oldham, 35-54) experiencing threats to their own identity and Participants also noted that when they lacked feelings of self-worth. Loneliness can itself also social routines and social connections, they contribute to making people feel ‘not themselves’ found it more difficult to maintain healthy sleep or ‘like someone else.’ Participants noted and eating habits. Participants reported that that when they are lonely, they think, act and they either over or under slept and ate, making engage in ways they don’t recognise; they speak concentration more difficult and sometimes differently and worry in social situations; they may impairing performance at work or in their hobbies. not engage in the kinds of activities that normally These behaviours could further reduce social excite them; and so on. They looked, sounded connections (e.g. if participants were too tired to and felt different than they were used to. engage with colleagues or friends) and loneliness was exacerbated. Amidst the complex and interlinked impacts of loneliness is, for many, an identity crisis. All of “If you stay in bed all day and lack motivation, this exacerbates existing disconnection: how you will not feel [able] to cook. You don’t can you connect when you feel lost, unwell necessarily feel hungry and you need someone and when you’ve isolated yourself? Getting to remind you to eat.” to the point of identity crisis was particularly (Mobility, Female, London, 55-74)characteristic for the chronically lonely and seen by these participants as a negative and challenging reality to be living. What is it like to be lonely in the UK? 33