When you listen to the word «epidemic», what do you think? Smallpox? Yellow fever? Polio?
What about loneliness?
It may not seem like feeling only to be a serious public health problem, but that is what makes it so cunning and scary. In 2023, the General surgeon He called loneliness for his severe impact on mental and physical health, comparing social disconnection with smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
And because loneliness is more subjective than, for example, smoking or smallpox, recognizing and treating it can be complicated.
«If you want to know if someone is alone, you have to tell you,» he said Jeremy Nobel, MD, MPHFounder and president of the Foundation for Art & Healing, a non -profit organization that helps people find resources to combat loneliness. For perspective, Nobel said he will pretend that he has the most powerful telescope of the universe that he can see through the walls and that he is on the moon. «You could see all the isolated people on planet Earth, but you couldn’t understand who was alone.»
Define lonely
Loneliness is the feeling of being alone, or that has no significant, close relationships or a sense of belonging, regardless of how much social contact has.
Ironically, there are many people who feel that way. In fact, he found a 2024 survey conducted by the American Psychology Association 1 in 3 adults Experience feelings of loneliness at least once a week.
And loneliness is not just a problem in the United States about 1 in 4 People around the world, more than one billion people, feel «fair» or «very» lonely, according to a recent survey of more than 140 countries. The survey also found that, in more than half of those countries, more women feel alone than men.
Loneliness and mental health
Chronic loneliness is more complex than an occasional sensation, which everyone has, by the way. It is perfectly natural to feel alone from time to time. But long -term or chronic loneliness increases its risk of certain physical and mental health conditions, including depression.
Read: Is it only sadness or is it clinical depression? >>
Nobel said loneliness is like a pyramid. The lower level includes everyone because we all experience loneliness at some point. The average level is when you are going through a challenge, maybe a break or you are taking care of a child or a father with a disease, and you move away from people because you feel overwhelmed. This is natural, but leads to an increase in loneliness. The upper level is chronic loneliness.
When other people see that you are going back, they also tend to go back, Nobel said. And the lonely person becomes even more lonely. «It leads to the high level of loneliness, that is where loneliness is a serious medical problem,» he said. «Then the key is not to say: ‘We are never alone.’ The key is to avoid spiral from that base level to the middle level to the upper part.»
The effects of loneliness can run deeply. Research shows loneliness increases risk For depression, anxiety, self -harm and suicide. And leaving the spiral becomes more difficult over time.
Getting to a counselor or therapist can be an important step to handle the effects of the mental health of loneliness.
Psychologist Yvonne Thomas, Ph.D.Said loneliness, reduces self -esteem and feelings of self -esteem, which can lead to changes in behavior. «You can make you start to attack people, and that can make others want to be close to you … and you are creating even more loneliness because you are chasing people,» he said. «You don’t know what you’re doing, it’s totally subconscious.»
Thomas said that loneliness can lead to other destructive patterns, such as excessive use of substances, sleeping too much and eating in excess, as a way to avoid reality. «You are not investing in yourself or you are not taking care of yourself, so it can certainly waterfall in other problems,» he said.
Nobel pointed out that women tend to assume more insulating roles, such as the family caregiver, which put other people first and allow loneliness to take charge.
Who is at risk of chronic loneliness?
As noted, anyone can experience loneliness, but research shows that some people are more likely to experience chronic loneliness, including people who:
- They are members of the LGBTQ+ community
- They are immigrants
- They are single parents or caregivers
- Lose activities due to lack of physical capacity or money
- Have long -term physical or mental health conditions
- Have bad family relationships
- They have experienced sexual or physical abuse
Signs and symptoms of loneliness
He Symptoms and signs of loneliness Vary from person to person but may include:
- Lack of close relationships
- Adhere to surface level conversations and avoid serious issues
- Feel exhausted after spending time with others
- Feel isolated and separate, even in a room of people
For children and adolescents, parents can search for these common ones signs that your children can feel alone:
- Poor hygiene and not worry about the appearance
- A negative perspective of life
- A loss of interest in activities
- An increase in time spent alone or online
- Sadness or anxiety
Nobel, who is also the author of «project in a disturbing way: healing our disconnection crisis,» he added that it can be difficult for people in the roles of caregivers ask for support. If you or someone you know are showing signs of loneliness, there are steps that you can take to feel more connected.
How to deal with loneliness
Nobel said that overcoming loneliness begins by looking in his interests and hobbies and what you are passionate about. From there, he suggests that he investigates a bit to see if there is a club or a group that can join their area, including faith -based activities if it is a spiritual person. “It allows you to be in a space or environment of other people who share something. So it is easier to reveal things about you, what is required to connect, ”he said.
People who are naturally shy or introverted should adopt the same approach and seek to connect with others through a common interest. «The key is to do something authentic, something you really like,» Nobel said. «You can volunteer in a cat shelter, but if you don’t like cats, then you won’t have this type of connection through a passion shared by something.»
Many local universities offer continuing classes and programs that focus on activities and hobbies such as dance, art, foreign language, photography, etc. If you can’t find a group near you, start yours. «It will give you even more passion and you will feel more enthusiasm again and that can help reduce those negative feelings,» Thomas said.
Read: I’m turning anxiety into art >>
In addition to trying something new, Thomas said they communicate with healthy relationships with the people he has in his life. «You can tell you how you feel, but listen to them too and have a real conversation,» he said. «Maybe they are going to say that they are alone or are going through a difficult time and you can help them, help others help a person feel less alone.»
If existing healthy relationships are difficult to find, volunteering and promotion are other ways to add connection to your life. «You feel that you are making a difference and you have a purpose and there is meaning again,» said Thomas.
Working in yourself is also important. Thomas recommended starting the day with 10 or 15 minutes of writing in a newspaper about two things: a memory in which he experienced joy with other people and a time when he felt a connection with someone. «Write him to remember that his whole life has not been so and he doesn’t have to stay that way,» Thomas said.
With so many people who live with solitude, the way to follow is to put on and help others do the same. «You are not alone because 50% of people feel significantly lonely from time to time,» said Nobel. «And the other half may not be willing to say it.»
This educational resource was created with the support of Pfizer, a member of the Corporate Advisory Council of Greetings.
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