For people with depression, going out and interacting with others — even loved ones — may feel overwhelming or even impossible.

Social withdrawal is common among people with depression — and those with the condition are less likely to socialize with others, even with people they’re close with, research shows.

But isolating from others can cause more problems for you, including feelings of loneliness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Science Suggests the Link Between Depression and Loneliness Works Both Ways

Depression and loneliness appear to reinforce each other. The social withdrawal that often happens with depression can make you feel lonely, and that loneliness can lead to new or worsening depression, says the licensed psychologist James C. Jackson, PsyD, a research professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

“The more people get depressed, the more they isolate, a fact that heightens feelings of loneliness, which, in turn, worsens depression,” says Dr. Jackson. “It is often a vicious cycle.”

A study published in December 2020 in International Psychogeriatrics showed that among adults older than 50 in the United Kingdom who practiced mandatory social distancing in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, feelings of loneliness were associated with worsened mental health symptoms like depression.

“Among a cohort of older adults in the UK, there was a 29 percent increase in depressive scores of those that reported loneliness compared with those who did not report loneliness,” says Drew Maygren, DO, a psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California, who was not affiliated with the study.

Along with social withdrawal, other symptoms of depression like persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness could also lead to loneliness, Dr. Maygren says.

“These symptoms may result in behaviors that create loneliness,” says Maygren. For example, if someone feels like others are judging them for their depressive symptoms, they may avoid reaching out, which could ramp up loneliness for them.

Loneliness Harms Both the Mind and the Body

Loneliness and social isolation are not only linked to depression, but they also raise the risk of anxiety, cognitive problems, self-harm, and suicide, according to an advisory published in May 2023 by the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, MD. Increased social connection appears to be strongly protective against these conditions, the advisory stated.

Along with mental health issues, loneliness (either with or without depression) is linked to physical health problems as well. Data has long suggested people ages 50 or older are at higher risk of social isolation than younger people because of factors like living alone, chronic illness, or the loss of family or friends, that tend to be more prevalent among this age group, according to a report published in 2020 by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Specifically, loneliness is associated with higher rates of dementia, heart disease, and stroke, as well as early death among older adults.

A growing body of research shows that loneliness is increasing in younger people, too. Around the world, the rates of feeling lonely at school doubled in 2018 compared with 2012, which was associated with worsened psychological well-being, according to a study published in the December 2021 issue of the Journal of Adolescence. In December 2021, approximately 79 percent of adults ages 18 to 24 reported feeling lonely, according to survey data published by Cigna Corporation.

“Loneliness is associated with worrying outcomes, regardless of whether people are depressed or not,” Jackson said. “But when people experience both loneliness and depression together, especially elders, outcomes are even worse.”

How to Cope With Loneliness if You Have Depression

The good news: While loneliness can be difficult to cope with on top of depression, experts have suggestions for when depressive symptoms make it harder to be social in the first place. Here are four strategies to help you stay connected with others around you.

1. Consider Joining a Support Group

A support group with other people who are experiencing depression or other health conditions can help you stay connected to your existing friends and relations and meet new people who understand what you’re going through, according to Mental Health America (MHA).

Research backs this up. For instance, one small study published in March 2022 in Health and Social Care in the Community showed that peer mental health support groups were helpful for men experiencing mental distress and social isolation, especially because participants had a shared understanding of each other's experiences.

Need help finding a support group? Organizations like MHA and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, for example, have directories of support groups you could join, whether in-person or virtually. Support groups are also available for people with physical health conditions who may be more isolated because of their symptoms.

“These are broadly available for people with chronic illness, whether mental or physical, and have become increasingly popular for people with long COVID, one of the particularly challenging conditions of our time,” Jackson says.

2. Try New Social Activities

Getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new can be hard, especially if you find social interactions intimidating. But, finding a new activity that’s fun for you and helps you connect with others can quell feelings of loneliness.

“Not only does this allow for a joyful experience, but it also reinforces supportive social interactions,” Maygren says.

Some potential social activities to try, adds Maygren, are:

Classes at a community center, such as cooking or foreign language, that promote interaction with others
Book clubs
Exercise classes. Along with helping you feel less lonely, exercise in general is known to lift depressive symptoms.

If it feels too intimidating to do this alone, consider inviting a friend or family member to go with you.

3. Connect With Loved Ones

More one-on-one social interactions might be beneficial for people experiencing both depression and loneliness, say Jackson and Maygren. “Connection, after all, can be an antidote to both loneliness and depression,” adds Jackson.

Maygren’s recommendation? “Take time to call one additional friend or family member each day that you were not planning to talk to.” This way, people can practice engaging more socially with people they already know and trust.

Video chatting may be especially helpful for people who aren’t able to leave home as often, such as older adults. A study published in March 2019 in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry suggests that using Skype (one form of video chatting) may lower the risk of depression for aging adults.

4. Tell Your Therapist if You’re Struggling With Loneliness

If you see a therapist or another mental health professional for depression, be open with them about how loneliness is affecting you. They can help you find ways to reduce loneliness and the impact of certain maladaptive behaviors linked to loneliness, such as social withdrawal, says Maygren.