What is loneliness: causes, consequences, prevention tips

Humans are social creatures and our nature requires us to interact with other people. While everyone enjoys some degree of solitude, too much of it can quickly turn into loneliness. The feeling of wanting company, wanting someone to communicate with, but having no one available is what defines loneliness. A state of mind, loneliness can often lead to feeling unwanted. It can also lead to more serious problems such as anxiety, depression, stroke, and even heart disease in extreme cases.

A study published in the Lancet suggests that a third of people in industrialized countries suffer from loneliness. One in 12 people may also have severe symptoms. Read on to learn more about loneliness and how to combat it.

What is loneliness?

While you might think that loneliness is about not having anyone around you to interact with, that’s not entirely true. Loneliness is a state of mind. It’s a distressing experience that stems from our perception of isolation, and can also refer to the gap between the social interaction we want and what we actually get, according to this study titled Our epidemic of loneliness and isolationperformed by US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.

Murthy goes on to explain that loneliness can have physical consequences, saying that a lonely person’s risk of premature death increases by 26 percent.

Explaining the concept of loneliness, psychiatrist Dr. Ajit Dandekar says, “It’s all about how you feel. If you feel like you’re alone, then you’re lonely. This is how it’s different from social isolation. Social isolation is when we’re socially isolated from the community.”

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Why do we feel lonely?

There can be many reasons why someone can feel lonely. Here are some causes of loneliness:

1. Physical isolation

Physical isolation, such as moving to a new city or country, getting married or even getting divorced, can lead to feelings of loneliness. A study published in Psychosomatic Medicinestates that couples who have gone through a divorce can often experience loneliness. Interventions need to be implemented to help people understand how to ‘let go’. The loss of a loved one can also lead to feeling lonely, even when you are surrounded by many people, states this study, published in Boundaries in psychology.

2. Symptom of depression

Loneliness can be felt by people who suffer from depression. When someone is depressed, they may withdraw socially and spend most of their time alone. This can often culminate in a feeling of isolation. Loneliness can also lead to depression. Loneliness is a significant variable that can influence depression, this study, published in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry.

3. Low self-esteem

When we suffer from low self-esteem, we don’t want to be surrounded by too many people. This can often lead to feeling lonely. People who are not confident in themselves feel that they don’t deserve the time and attention of others. The social anxiety that people experience can also lead to low self-esteem and loneliness, according to a study published in the International Journal of Psychological Studies.

4. Introvert personality

If you are an introvert, this can also be a reason to feel lonely. An introvert is less likely to be surrounded by social connections. This can make them feel isolated and alone. A study published in Health Psychology Opensuggests that people assume that if you are an introvert, you do not need as much social connection. However, during the Covid-19 lockdown, it was seen that social isolation was no easier for introverts than for people with an extroverted personality. Introverts also experience a positive impact after socializing, but they find it difficult to find, recognize and use social support. This can lead to them feeling lonely.

Consequences of loneliness

Loneliness can have multiple side effects on your physical and mental health. Here are some of the effects of loneliness, as listed by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It states that lonely people are at a higher risk of dying prematurely. In addition, loneliness can also be associated with the reasons for developing depression, anxiety and even lead to suicide. It can also lead to long-term illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and a weakened immune system. It was also stated that heart patients who were reported as lonely had a four times higher risk of dying. They also had a 68 percent higher risk of being hospitalized, according to this study titled Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults.

What is the difference between loneliness and social isolation?

Social isolation and loneliness are different and cannot be used interchangeably. Social isolation is when you have few social connections. You are not part of too many social groups and do not have many social interactions. Loneliness, on the other hand, is the gap between the social connections an individual would like to have and the social connections they actually have. Social connection refers to the number of people in your inner circle, who you can lean on and relate to.

How do you deal with loneliness?

If you’re feeling lonely, there are a number of things you can do to help yourself feel better. You can join a hobby group or a class. “Having the opportunity to interact with people in a more structured environment, like a class, can often make it easier to find like-minded people. You might end up with some great friendships,” says Dr. Dandekar.

You can also seek support online. “There are several online support groups that can help you deal with your feelings. When you talk to people who are going through the same issues as you, you are being more transparent,” says Dr. Dandekar. These groups also provide a great platform to meet more people.

In addition, self-care can also help you feel better. “Just taking care of yourself and your needs can often help people cope with feelings of despair and loneliness,” says Dr. Dandekar. Read on to understand how to deal with loneliness.

Resume

You can be surrounded by people and still feel isolated and lonely. Loneliness is a state of mind that does not allow you to be satisfied with the social interactions you currently have. It can often lead to serious problems such as depression, anxiety and even premature death and suicide. Therefore, it is very important to recognize why you feel lonely and find a way to overcome it.