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Description

It has been said that in the 21st Century loneliness has become an epidemic. Although this fact is disputed, it is clear that loneliness has a deep effect on people of all ages and from all walks of life.
Loneliness is caused not by being alone, but by being without some definite needed relationship or set of relationships.
Loneliness is one of the main indicators of social well-being. Loneliness can have a major impact on health, life expectancy and mental wellbeing. Recent studies suggest that it is as harmful as obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Feeling lonely can lead to depression, anxiety, disrupted sleep and stress. It can also be a factor in heart disease, increased blood pressure and degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
· 16–29 year olds twice as likely as over 70s to experience loneliness
· Loneliness increases the likelihood of mortality by 26%
· Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to a 30% increase in the risk of having a stroke or coronary artery disease
· Loneliness is associated with a 40% increased risk of dementia
Several systematic reviews have demonstrated that social isolation is associated with depressive symptoms, which, in turn, are correlated with unhealthy behaviours and reduced access to material resources. Depression, common in later life, is related to adverse health outcomes such as poor quality of life and functional disability. With the high current global burden of depression expected to increase further by 2030, addressing social isolation is an important issue for protecting mental health.
There are 3 types of loneliness i.e. situational loneliness, developmental loneliness, and internal loneliness.
1. Situational Loneliness: The various factors associated with situational loneliness are environmental factors (unpleasant experiences, discrepancy between the levels of his/her needs), migration of people, inter personal conflicts, accidents and disasters, etc
2. Developmental Loneliness: The various factors associated with developmental loneliness are personal inadequacies, developmental deficits, significant separations, poverty, living arrangements, and physical/psychological disabilities
3. Internal Loneliness: The various factors associated with internal loneliness are personality factors, locus of control, mental distress, low self-esteem, guilt feeling , and poor coping strategies with situations
Social isolation and cultures
The health effects of social isolation may differ depending on the cultural context of social relationships. In East Asian countries, including Japan, there is a familial norm based on the traditional culture of filial piety, which is often contrasted with individualism in Western countries.
Based on this cultural background, Japanese social support networks may be kinship centred, which may be narrower than the types of social networks prevalent in other countries. However, there is a lack of consensus on the health effects of social relationships based on these cultural differences. A previous cross-national study showed that among English men, friendship-based social relationships had a significant impact on longevity, whereas among Japanese men, this impact was associated with family-based social relationships.
How to stop feeling lonely
Think about what you would like to spend more time doing. Do you want to feel more connected with friends or family? Arrange to do something with them.
If you’ve felt lonely for a long time, even if you already know lots of people, it can be terrifying to think about trying to meet new people or opening up to people for the first time. But you don’t need to rush into anything.
For example, you could try doing an online activity where other people attend but you’re not expected to interact with them, such as a drawing lesson. Or if you’re interested in joining a new group or class, you could ask whoever runs the sessions if you can just watch at first, rather than taking part.
You could also share your skills and time with others; volunteering or joining a group is a fantastic way to make new friends. Stay on the lookout for community events; Nextdoor is a great way to find out what is happening in your local area. If you have a passion for something — swimming, walking, reading — join a local club to meet like minded people.
Loneliness can have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing. Being lonely can often lead to you feeling worried, low, out of sorts, or just struggling to work up the energy to do things you used to. These are signs you’re not feeling as well as you could be. Talking is often the best way to start feeling better. That could be with a family member, your doctor or nurse — whoever you feel comfortable with.
If you speak to your doctor or nurse, they might be able to suggest things you can do to help. Understandably, the idea of talking to someone can be daunting for some, and for others it’s just not in their nature to talk about their feelings. But ignoring it doesn’t make it go away, it’s likely to only make it worse in the long-term. Maybe now is the time to take that first step to helping yourself feel better.
Bottom-line
Everyone deserves to thrive, and it is more likely to happen when they allow themselves to be receptive to love, help, and support.
Talking is often the best way to start feeling better. That could be with a family member, your doctor or nurse — whoever you feel comfortable with.

Description

It has been said that in the 21st Century loneliness has become an epidemic. Although this fact is disputed, it is clear that loneliness has a deep effect on people of all ages and from all walks of life.
Loneliness is caused not by being alone, but by being without some definite needed relationship or set of relationships.
Loneliness is one of the main indicators of social well-being. Loneliness can have a major impact on health, life expectancy and mental wellbeing. Recent studies suggest that it is as harmful as obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Feeling lonely can lead to depression, anxiety, disrupted sleep and stress. It can also be a factor in heart disease, increased blood pressure and degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
· 16–29 year olds twice as likely as over 70s to experience loneliness
· Loneliness increases the likelihood of mortality by 26%
· Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to a 30% increase in the risk of having a stroke or coronary artery disease
· Loneliness is associated with a 40% increased risk of dementia
Several systematic reviews have demonstrated that social isolation is associated with depressive symptoms, which, in turn, are correlated with unhealthy behaviours and reduced access to material resources. Depression, common in later life, is related to adverse health outcomes such as poor quality of life and functional disability. With the high current global burden of depression expected to increase further by 2030, addressing social isolation is an important issue for protecting mental health.
There are 3 types of loneliness i.e. situational loneliness, developmental loneliness, and internal loneliness.
1. Situational Loneliness: The various factors associated with situational loneliness are environmental factors (unpleasant experiences, discrepancy between the levels of his/her needs), migration of people, inter personal conflicts, accidents and disasters, etc
2. Developmental Loneliness: The various factors associated with developmental loneliness are personal inadequacies, developmental deficits, significant separations, poverty, living arrangements, and physical/psychological disabilities
3. Internal Loneliness: The various factors associated with internal loneliness are personality factors, locus of control, mental distress, low self-esteem, guilt feeling , and poor coping strategies with situations
Social isolation and cultures
The health effects of social isolation may differ depending on the cultural context of social relationships. In East Asian countries, including Japan, there is a familial norm based on the traditional culture of filial piety, which is often contrasted with individualism in Western countries.
Based on this cultural background, Japanese social support networks may be kinship centred, which may be narrower than the types of social networks prevalent in other countries. However, there is a lack of consensus on the health effects of social relationships based on these cultural differences. A previous cross-national study showed that among English men, friendship-based social relationships had a significant impact on longevity, whereas among Japanese men, this impact was associated with family-based social relationships.
How to stop feeling lonely
Think about what you would like to spend more time doing. Do you want to feel more connected with friends or family? Arrange to do something with them.
If you’ve felt lonely for a long time, even if you already know lots of people, it can be terrifying to think about trying to meet new people or opening up to people for the first time. But you don’t need to rush into anything.
For example, you could try doing an online activity where other people attend but you’re not expected to interact with them, such as a drawing lesson. Or if you’re interested in joining a new group or class, you could ask whoever runs the sessions if you can just watch at first, rather than taking part.
You could also share your skills and time with others; volunteering or joining a group is a fantastic way to make new friends. Stay on the lookout for community events; Nextdoor is a great way to find out what is happening in your local area. If you have a passion for something — swimming, walking, reading — join a local club to meet like minded people.
Loneliness can have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing. Being lonely can often lead to you feeling worried, low, out of sorts, or just struggling to work up the energy to do things you used to. These are signs you’re not feeling as well as you could be. Talking is often the best way to start feeling better. That could be with a family member, your doctor or nurse — whoever you feel comfortable with.
If you speak to your doctor or nurse, they might be able to suggest things you can do to help. Understandably, the idea of talking to someone can be daunting for some, and for others it’s just not in their nature to talk about their feelings. But ignoring it doesn’t make it go away, it’s likely to only make it worse in the long-term. Maybe now is the time to take that first step to helping yourself feel better.
Bottom-line
Everyone deserves to thrive, and it is more likely to happen when they allow themselves to be receptive to love, help, and support.
Talking is often the best way to start feeling better. That could be with a family member, your doctor or nurse — whoever you feel comfortable with.