Overcoming The Feeling Of Emptiness: Strategies To Help Reclaim A Full Life

Updated March 7, 2023by BetterHelp Editorial Team

When you sense a lack of hollowness within yourself, it may be described as an experience of emptiness. This could appear in several ways, such as feeling cut off from people, missing a sense of direction or meaning in life, or lacking fulfillment in your relationships or profession. Since this feeling might potentially worsen mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and poor self-esteem, it is beneficial to treat it. Ignoring or suppressing these emotions might result in unhealthful coping strategies like substance misuse or self-destructive activities. You could have a better and more fulfilled life by addressing and overcoming the empty feeling.

Understanding The Cause Of The Emptiness

The sensation of emptiness seems to have a wide range of potential causes, typically resulting from several elements working together. The death of a loved one, a dissatisfying job, an empty love, and relationship problems are typical causes. These life experiences may cause a sense of loss or sadness, which may add to an empty sensation. To try and properly handle these emotions, it is ideal for taking the time to comprehend their underlying causes. This might entail self-reflection, such as writing or confiding in a close friend or relative about your thoughts and feelings. Finding the precise reason for the empty sensation and creating a solution with a qualified online therapist or counselor may be helpful.

Finding Meaning And Purpose In Life

Discovering meaning and purpose in life is possibly one strategy that may aid in overcoming the sense of emptiness. This might entail participating in enjoyable and fulfilling pursuits like hobbies or sports. By pursuing interests and hobbies, you might feel a feeling of achievement and have something to look forward to. Volunteering or giving back to the community may also be beneficial since it may offer a feeling of direction and community. By putting more activities in your life, you might be able to break through the feeling of emptiness.

Building And Maintaining Positive Relationships

Creating and maintaining positive relationships may be an effective way to combat the feeling of emptiness. Relationships with those we care about give us a sense of community, support, and connection when facing challenges or difficult times. Establishing boundaries and engaging in healthy communication helps to create and sustain satisfying relationships. This might include being honest and upfront with people, setting firm limits, and learning to say "no" when necessary. Through these positive connections, we may find more fulfillment in our lives.

Practicing Self-care

To effectively address and resolve feelings of emptiness, taking care of your own needs is ideal. Self-care might be a valuable component of overcoming the emptiness feeling. This may entail doing activities that advance both physical and mental health, such as exercise, a healthy diet, and relaxation methods.   In addition, finding ways to relax and have fun might be beneficial in managing your mental health and giving yourself a break from life's stressors. There are many things to do when feeling sad or empty; think out of the box.

Making Progress In Overcoming An Empty Feeling

Progress may come in the form of small successes that add up over time. Regularly reflecting on how far you have come in overcoming the empty feeling may help motivate and encourage further progress. You might feel more connected to people or activities, notice a decreased stress level, or have an increased sense of purpose. Additionally, it may be possible that you might begin to experience greater satisfaction in your life and relationships as you continue working towards reclaiming your fullness.

Feeling Empty? Get Meaning & Fulfillment with Online Therapy.

Benefits Of Online Therapy

Online Therapy may be a helpful tool if you are experiencing a sense of emptiness or a lack in your life. A therapist could offer a safe and encouraging environment that allows you to investigate the underlying causes of your emotions and create coping mechanisms. Through effective communication and boundary-setting, they could also assist you in finding more meaning and purpose in your life and creating and maintaining positive relationships. Additionally, therapy could be a vital resource in treating mental health conditions like depression or anxiety that may be causing you to feel empty. You might increase your level of happiness and fulfillment in life and get rid of the empty feeling by going to online therapy. 

Effectiveness Of Online Therapy

Research has demonstrated the efficacy of online therapy in treating various mental health conditions. In a systematic literature review conducted in 2019, Dowling and Rickwood found that online counseling successfully treated depression, anxiety, stress management, grief, feeling empty, prevention, substance use recovery, career counseling, and couples counseling. This study suggests that online counseling has the potential to be an effective method to treat those struggling with feeling empty. Additionally, online therapy enables individuals to get mental health care without needing physical visits and provides a convenient and safe platform for therapeutic sessions. Therefore, online therapy may provide the support you need if you are experiencing feelings of emptiness or lack in your life.

Key Takeaways:

  • Feeling empty may be common emotion that might be addressed by pursuing interests and hobbies, creating positive relationships, practicing self-care, and engaging in online therapy. Online therapy is an effective treatment for feeling empty as it provides a safe, platform to explore the underlying causes of the emotion and create coping mechanisms.

  • Building and maintaining positive relationships, creating healthy boundaries, engaging in self-care activities, and getting online therapy may help individuals combat the feeling of emptiness and find more purpose and fulfillment in their lives.

  • Research has demonstrated the efficacy of online therapy in treating various mental health conditions, including feelings of emptiness.

  • For those experiencing a lack or emptiness, online therapy may be an invaluable tool for regaining a sense of purpose and happiness.

Conclusion

If you are feeling empty, know that you don't have to deal with it alone, and some steps might be taken to address this common emotion. Building positive relationships, pursuing interests and hobbies, engaging in self-care activities, and getting online therapy may help you find more purpose and fulfillment in your life. Online therapy is an effective treatment for feeling empty as it provides a safee, platform to explore the underlying causes of the emotion and create coping mechanisms. If you are struggling with feelings of emptiness, it is ideal to reach out for help.

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