Loneliness is sometimes chosen; it happens that it results from a voluntary step of withdrawal, of return to oneself and a will of introspection and meditation. But it is most often a feeling of social isolation suffered. Feeling alone then represents great suffering, that of feeling misunderstood, unloved and abandoned as reported by our colleagues in the Guardian.
"The greatest suffering is to feel alone, without love, abandoned by all. - Mother Teresa
Loneliness can lead to depression
When such feelings set in and become permanent, emotional health can be affected. People who are lonely and long-suffering become more prone to psychological disorders and depression.
Experiments on mice show that the social isolation inflicted and sustained leads to a higher level of anxiety, a propensity to eat more and a decreased interest in the world and enjoyable activities. symptoms similar to those of depression in humans.
All people who are alone do not feel alone and not everyone who feels alone is alone. Loneliness in men is thus not always synonymous with social isolation and these two phenomena bring as much pain to one another as they undergo.
Loneliness also affects health
More and more research is being done on loneliness and how it affects people and they tend to recognize it as a threat to health.
For psychology professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad, from Brigham Young University in Provo, USA, if the social connection is associated with a lower probability of dying prematurely, loneliness, in turn, makes people feel that it is more dangerous to their physical health than those caused by alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity, air pollution or obesity.
For the psychologist, "[feeling lonely] is comparable to the risk of smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day."
The effects of loneliness on the human body
Research conducted at the University of Maine in the United States on the effects of social isolation and loneliness on health shows that loneliness is linked to increased tissue inflammation and helps to speed up the process. cell aging and the development of disorders such as dementia, cardiovascular diseases, insomnia, decreased immune function or disruption of blood sugar.
The absence of social interactions also has the effect of unbalancing the levels of neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, endorphin) and hormones (cortisol, oxytocin) in the body and in the brain in particular. Its optimal functioning is hampered and various disorders appear.
What can be done to ward off the insidious evil of loneliness?
Here's what you could start doing today to keep loneliness away and be happier and healthier:
- Take the time to see your family members regularly and spend time with your friends.
- Care to share with those around you. At home, at work, at the store and everywhere, take a few moments to relax the atmosphere, make a compliment or simply ask how things are going.
- Meet people who share the same interests as you. Sign up for a club or association and participate in activities that make you feel better with people with whom you have something in common.
- Make yourself useful and take care of others. Helping others is a particularly effective way to get out of loneliness. Rather than asking why nobody cares about you, consider looking at others and what you can do for them.
- Speak with your loved ones about your concerns and things you value.