Effects of Loneliness on People
Written by Raphael Lee Edited by Sophie gain"Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty", stated Mother Teresa. As human beings, we always have a constant need for social interactions and the ability to connect and be supported by others around you. However, many around the world still suffer from feelings of loneliness and social isolation due a variety of reasons, from moving to new places to experiencing bereavement. I will be exploring the negative effects of loneliness on our physical and mental wellbeing, and how we can tackle these effects.
First of all, let’s be clear about one thing. Being lonely and being alone are actually two different things which often get confused as the same. As Nina Vasan, psychiatrist and professor at Stanford University states: “Loneliness is a feeling, while being alone is a situation or state of being, which is not inherently negative”. She added, “You can feel lonely even when you’re surrounded by other people - such as a partner, family, co-workers or friends. If you’re by yourself but connecting to others through good communication or activities like volunteering, you won’t feel lonely.”
Research has shown that up to 80% of those under 18, and 40% of elders, ordinarily experience loneliness in their lifetime. This is not to be taken by surprise, as loneliness is known as the social equivalent of physical pain and suffering; thus everyone is prone to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
An obvious consequence of loneliness is that it brings significant harm to one’s mental health and wellbeing. Feeling lonely is usually associated with the difference between a person’s longing for social connections and the actual reality of it. Not having someone by your side that cares about you evokes feelings of negligence and anxiety, making them seem as if they're ostracised by society. Research has shown that loneliness is linked to heart disease, depression, stress, low self-esteem, and even personality disorders. A stunning finding is that loneliness has been shown to lead to cognitive decline and dementia, especially in the elderly. As Louise Hawkley from the University of Chicago points out, “Our research really shows that the magnitude of risk presented by social isolation is very similar to the magnitude of obesity, smoking, lack of access to health care and physical inactivity’.
Moreover, feeling lonely or isolated also affects our interpersonal skills, as even though those affected yearn for interactions, they simply lack the self confidence to approach and interact with others in a normal manner. As mentioned above, loneliness damages one’s self esteem, making them perceive themselves in a negative way. This can lead to the ‘loneliness loop’ which is a combination of low self-esteem, pessimism, stress and social anxiety, which then contributes to the affected person's distancing of themselves from others.
However, don’t worry! Here are a few tips to prevent yourself from having feelings of loneliness. An important thing to remember is to maintain contact with those around you whether it is family or friends so you stay connected and feel supported by others. Another tip is to try to get out of your comfort zone and forge new connections with others, including participating in extracurricular activities or actively joining groups based on your own interests. These activities will give you the great opportunity to meet new friends and forge new connections with others, enlarging your social circle and also encouraging you to build more interactions which help you to feel less lonely.
As we can see there are many negative mental and physical consequences of loneliness. However, as long as we keep in contact with others and maintain social interactions then we won’t need to feel lonely.