Loneliness will make you sick.
We’ve all heard the phrase “loneliness epidemic” in the news. Why is it so important? Well loneliness is linked to both mental and physical health problems. It’s no secret humans are social animals. We evolved this way. Think back, I mean way back, to when humans lived in hunter-gatherer tribes. If one person went off hunting or foraging on their own, that could be really dangerous. Families stayed together for generations, with each generation offering something special such as strength or wisdom, each having a role in caring for the family/community as a whole. Having community allows for all needs to be taken care of because the burden of the load of survival could be split between everyone. Babies and young children needed constant support, much easier within a group. To summarize, it was a threat to survival to be alone. That is how our nervous systems developed, which is why loneliness is such a big stressor. Your body literally interprets it as life threatening, meaning your stress response (fight-or-flight) system is activated.
What does chronic activation of your stress response system do? A lot. It creates metabolic issues due to the nervous system being switched into high gear without a break. It also leads to chronic inflammation, which is a leading cause of conditions such as heart disease and cancer. Research has also shown that social isolation can reduce the function of your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to illness. Lack of social support leads to increases in depression, anxiety, and an exacerbation of other mental health challenges. Creating and maintaining meaningful relationships should be just as important to you as diet and exercise for your long term health. Not only do these relationships prevent the issues I previously mentioned, relationships are good for the neural networks in your brain as well! We learn more through social relationships, strengthening old and creating new connections. Focus on the quality of your relationships, rather than the quantity. Research shows that’s more important. So call your loved ones regularly. Go on dates. Try new things together. Share your sorrow and definitely share lots of belly laughs.
Questions to ponder.
On a scale of 1-10, how lonely or how connected do you feel in your life right now?
How does that leave you feeling? Are you satisfied with your social connection?
How can you connect more with others in a meaningful way?
