Loneliness

Date: December 9th

Location: Your couch! See your e-mail for the Zoom link!

Directions: See your e-mail for tips for signing into Zoom!

Today’s lesson is adapted from a lesson by Mary Burns!

Loneliness is complex and unique to each person. It can be referred to as a state of mind. It causes people to feel empty, alone and unwanted. They may also crave human contact, but their state of mind makes it difficult to form connections. But a person does not have to be alone to be lonely. Feeling alone and isolated will create feelings of loneliness even in a crowd.

What does it feel like to be lonely? Click this this link and see what people from across the globe describe as loneliness and why they might feel that way. One of the responses describes loneliness as carrying a big bag with no helpers. Another is the desire to stay away from others, remain alone in your thoughts and begin to imagine all that is bad. One suggests that the feeling of loneliness and the desire to be alone are different. People may feel lonely due to reasons such as social awkwardness and intentional isolation. Although it is experienced by everyone, it is never pleasant.

Cigna (the insurance company) wanted to learn how widespread loneliness was. Using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, participants answered questions on well-being, social interaction and relationships. Any score over 43 is considered loneliness. Researchers were surprised (and alarmed) at the results. When asked how often participants felt alone, 46% answered “always” or “sometimes”. When asked about feeling left out, nearly 47% indicated sometimes or always. And one in four Americans rarely or never feel that others understand them. The loneliest group were those between 18 and 22, “Generation Z”, who also reported more health problems than older people. Researchers were surprised to learn that social media did not influence significant differences in loneliness.

There are different situations and scenarios which can cause feelings of loneliness. Author and blogger Gretchen Rubin outlines some of the situations that may cause loneliness:

· New situational loneliness: Moved to a new place

· ‘I’m different’ loneliness: You feel different due to something that is important to you but not others.

· No sweetheart loneliness: Lacking the intimacy of a romantic partner.

· No animal loneliness: Some prefer the companion of an animal than a person, when there is no animal, they are lonely

· No time for me loneliness: You can be surrounded by people who are so busy that they don’t really have time to spend with you. Or, friends from the past are suddenly busy with family or work.

· Untrustworthy friends loneliness: This can happen when you lose the trust in a friendship.

· Quiet presence loneliness: You may be missing the quiet companionship of another, just someone to hang out with at home.

There are many negative health effects of loneliness including depression, cardiovascular disease, increased stress, decreased memory and learning, antisocial behavior, and difficulty making decisions.

Loneliness is associated with a higher rate of alcoholism and drug abuse, disrupted sleep and premature aging.

Low levels of loneliness are associated with marriage, higher incomes and higher educational status, while high levels of loneliness are associated with physical health symptoms, living alone, a small social network and low-quality social relationships.

One interesting study on loneliness looked at how loneliness spreads in social networks. It discovered that people close to someone experiencing loneliness were 52% more likely to become lonely as well.

A chronic state of social isolation is linked to depression, anxiety and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

This week we will explore ways to combat loneliness in class! Just remember that we can combat loneliness, even in the midst of 2020! If you are lonely, remember to reach out to someone, even via letter or Zoom to make sure you maintain connections.

Blanco-Suarez, E. P. (2017, December 19). The Neuroscience of Loneliness. Retrieved from psychologytoday.com: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-chemistry/201712/the-neuroscience-loneliness

Cherry, K. (2018, October 10). What You Should Know About Loneliness. Retrieved from verywellmind.com: What You Should Know About Loneliness

Entis, L. (2016, June 22). Chronic Loneliness Is a Modern-Day Epidemic. Retrieved from fortune.com: http://fortune.com/2016/06/22/loneliness-is-a-modern-day-epidemic/

Jaremka, D. L. (2018, February 22). Feeling Lonely? Your Brain May Be at Risk. Retrieved from psychologytoday.com: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-social-brain/201802/feeling-lonely-your-brain-may-be-risk

Leahy, D. R. (2017, February 9). Living with Loneliness. Retrieved from psychologytoday.com: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anxiety-files/201702/living-loneliness

One way social isolation changes the mouse brain. (2018, May 17). Retrieved from eurekalert.org: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-05/cp-ows051018.php

Polack, E. (2018, May 1). NEW CIGNA STUDY REVEALS LONELINESS AT EPIDEMIC LEVELS IN AMERICA. Retrieved from cigna.com: https://www.cigna.com/newsroom/news-releases/2018/new-cigna-study-reveals-loneliness-at-epidemic-levels-in-america

Rubin, G. (2017, February 27). 7 Types of Loneliness, and Why It Matters. Retrieved from psychologytoday.com: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-happiness-project/201702/7-types-loneliness-and-why-it-matters

Trafton, A. (2016, February 11). Pinpointing loneliness in the brain. Retrieved from news.mit.edu: http://news.mit.edu/2016/neurons-loneliness-brain-0211