Are you feeling lonely? If so, you are not alone as nearly three in five Americans feel lonely and only 39% of us feel connected to other people according a 2023 article authored by the US Surgeon General.
The good news is that threre are ways to deal with loneliness and isolation.
What exactly is loneliness? It is the distressing feeling that stems from the difference between our desired level of social connection and and our actual level of social connection. It is related to but different from social isolation in which an individual has few relationships or infrequent social contact. It is possible to be isolated and not feel lonely and it is possible to be surrounded by people and still feel lonely.
There are also health problems associated with loneliness and social isolation, including depression and anxiety. But there are also strong links between loneliness and physical health as well. Some of these physical problems include heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, viral infections and premature mortality. Lack of social interaction also raises the risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s as well. Loneliness has also been linked to chronic inflammation. According to Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Ph.D. social isolation can be as bad for your health as being obese or smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Is it ever normal to feel lonely? Loneliness affects men and women of all ages but it is especially common among younger people, people with poor health, those that live alone and those that struggle financially. Older people tend to be more isolated than younger people. Our social networks do tend to shrink as we get older as friends and family move away or die.
In my next blog I will talk about ways to overcome feelings of loneliness as there are steps we can take to reduce loneliness.
If you feel lonely and isolated, contacting a therapist might be helpful especially if you are anxious or depressed.
I can help link you to a therapist if you want to contact me at [email protected] or call at 361.442.9590.