It’s not my fault that I’m lonely
8 years, 10 months ago

It’s not my fault that I’m lonely

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The word “loner” has negative connotations in society, and is often used to describe people who’ve just gone on an axe-wielding rampage. Adding final insult to injury, she writes: “If you’re neither too young nor too old, and you don’t have any friends, you may simply be too critical or negative.” The piece – which, ironically, is wholly negative itself – is spectacularly irresponsible. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week – and with loneliness being such a big contributor to our mental health, we should never be made to feel like we’re to blame.

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History of this topic

How young women like me became part of the loneliest generation of all
2 months, 2 weeks ago

How young women like me became part of the loneliest generation of all

The Independent  

Like many people my age, when I thought about loneliness I was instantly transported back to my school days when we would go on trips to care homes to keep the residents company. open image in gallery One survery suggests that one in 10 people feel they have no close friends You can also be in a group of friends …

7 things to do if you are feeling lonely right now
3 months ago

7 things to do if you are feeling lonely right now

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

Have you been feeling lonely for too long? It can drive you to drugs
4 months ago

Have you been feeling lonely for too long? It can drive you to drugs

Hindustan Times  

At some point in everyone’s lives, loneliness may come looming over. It might be a reaction to a mental health problem, or it could be the trigger that causes the mental health disorder.” Depression: “Loneliness is strongly associated with depression. If you've been feeling socially isolated or lonely, negative self-beliefs and suicide ideation may rise, while life satisfaction frequently falls. …

People are lonely. Small steps in your community can make a difference
5 months, 2 weeks ago

People are lonely. Small steps in your community can make a difference

CNN  

CNN — Editor’s Note: One Small Thing is a new series to help you take a simple step toward a healthy, impactful goal. “A lot of what’s torturous about social media, or even about in real life, is people being quick to be unkind, quick to be judgmental, quick to be divisive, quick to be like ‘you don’t see it …

World Mental Health Day: Loneliness Is More Dangerous Than You Think — It's A Silent Epidemic And Connection Is Cure
5 months, 3 weeks ago

World Mental Health Day: Loneliness Is More Dangerous Than You Think — It's A Silent Epidemic And Connection Is Cure

ABP News  

By Rita Aggarwal In today’s world, loneliness is no longer just a fleeting emotion; it has grown into a public health concern. The World Health Organization states that social isolation and loneliness are both increasingly being recognised as a priority public health problem and policy issue across all age groups. But the impact of loneliness goes far beyond feeling disconnected …

Only the lonely know the way I feel'
1 year, 4 months ago

Only the lonely know the way I feel'

Deccan Chronicle  

Feeling lonely is tough. Evolutionary mechanisms for loneliness As cavemen, we lived in “tribes.” The idea behind tribes was that everyone had assigned roles; some stayed back to take care of the family while others went out to hunt. Social connections ensure reproductive success in the tribes, where individuals formed partnerships and even shared caregiving responsibilities for children,” explains Dr. …

Loneliness Isn’t Just Bad for Your Health—It’s Deadly
1 year, 4 months ago

Loneliness Isn’t Just Bad for Your Health—It’s Deadly

Live Mint  

If you think canceling plans is always good self-care, you might want to think again. “There is potentially a protective effect around monthly friends and family visits," said Dr. Hamish Foster, the study’s lead author and a clinical research fellow at the University of Glasgow. “This uncomfortable, distressful feeling of being lonely over time has a negative effect," said Antonio …

The COVID pandemic may be "over" — but the pandemic of loneliness is getting worse
1 year, 10 months ago

The COVID pandemic may be "over" — but the pandemic of loneliness is getting worse

Salon  

On May 11, the CDC terminated its emergency declaration for COVID-19, marking an official end to the pandemic in America. The experience of that "enduring condition of emotional distress," in McWhirter's phrase, is not something that most people would have experienced before the 19th century, and in some sense did not exist. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, our current …

How lonely are you?
1 year, 10 months ago

How lonely are you?

Live Mint  

A 27-year-old female client tells me: “I feel lonely all the time and more so on weekends. Last week, US surgeon general Vivek Murthy released an advisory, Our Epidemic Of Loneliness And Isolation, addressing the epidemic of loneliness, its destructive impact and the healing effects of social connection and community. Absence of social connection can evoke emptiness and make people …

Experts say loneliness isn't just a social problem — it's bad for your health, too
1 year, 11 months ago

Experts say loneliness isn't just a social problem — it's bad for your health, too

Salon  

Loneliness isn't just a social problem — it's a physical problem as well, as scientific research over the past decade has revealed in spades. "In the lab study, we found striking similarities between social isolation and food deprivation," said authors Ana Stijovic and Paul Forbes in a joint press statement. "Both states induced lowered energy and heightened fatigue, which is …

Turn Your Loneliness Into 'Me-Time' With These Tips
2 years, 8 months ago

Turn Your Loneliness Into 'Me-Time' With These Tips

News 18  

Humans are social beings who thrive on social interactions. Volunteer As per a 2020 study in the United Kingdom, participants filled in a survey form every two years from 1996-2014, about their overall mental health and volunteering habits. It was found that those who volunteered at least once a month reported better mental health than those who volunteered infrequently or …

Loneliness is the last taboo – here’s how we can overcome it
2 years, 10 months ago

Loneliness is the last taboo – here’s how we can overcome it

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But when we spoke to people …

How micro-interactions can help us feel less lonely during the pandemic
3 years, 8 months ago

How micro-interactions can help us feel less lonely during the pandemic

ABC  

Katriona Fahey has spent months locked down at home by herself. Dr Michelle Lim, a loneliness researcher at Swinburne and chair of Ending Loneliness Together, says it's important to remember that feeling lonely is a normal part of the human experience. "Different kinds of relationships can meet your specific social and emotional needs," says Dr Marlee Bower, a research fellow …

Op-Ed: We’re in the midst of a global loneliness crisis. Here’s how we can end it
3 years, 8 months ago

Op-Ed: We’re in the midst of a global loneliness crisis. Here’s how we can end it

LA Times  

We are in the midst of a global loneliness crisis that struck long before “social distancing” entered our vernacular and our smiles were occluded by masks. We’ll need more places like colatecs — the South Korea daytime discos frequented by retirees — and social robots like Israel’s ElliQ, an artificial intelligence companion designed to keep older adults company that was …

Loneliness Awareness Week: 5 simple tips and tricks for when you feel alone
3 years, 9 months ago

Loneliness Awareness Week: 5 simple tips and tricks for when you feel alone

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

I’ve discovered the key to dealing with loneliness after a year of lockdowns
3 years, 11 months ago

I’ve discovered the key to dealing with loneliness after a year of lockdowns

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Loneliness is …

6 Signs Feeling Lonely Has Become A Bigger Issue (And How To Fix It)
4 years ago

6 Signs Feeling Lonely Has Become A Bigger Issue (And How To Fix It)

Huff Post  

Alexandra Bowman for HuffPost Bent Not Broken is a look back on the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has disrupted our mental health, plus advice on how to manage our well-being moving forward. Yasmine Saad, a licensed clinical psychologist and CEO of Madison Park Psychological Services in New York City, said that “when we go from …

How can I stop feeling lonely when I can’t leave the house?
4 years ago

How can I stop feeling lonely when I can’t leave the house?

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

I fear a loneliness epidemic among young people – here’s how we can help stop it
4 years, 6 months ago

I fear a loneliness epidemic among young people – here’s how we can help stop it

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy When we …

One in three women suffering from loneliness in lockdown
4 years, 9 months ago

One in three women suffering from loneliness in lockdown

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. For example, the number of people reporting at least one underlying mental health issue has risen …

Loneliness is unavoidable in a time of self-isolation. Why then do we resist it?
4 years, 10 months ago

Loneliness is unavoidable in a time of self-isolation. Why then do we resist it?

Firstpost  

‘I’ve often thought of loneliness like being washed over by the waves of the sea. In the middle of a crisis that has upended the idea of physical intimacy and made human contact so feverishly desirable, isn’t loneliness perhaps the most overpowering, all-consuming, overwhelming emotion? [imgcenter> [/imgcenter>​ Illustration © Adrija Ghosh for Firstpost I’ve often thought of loneliness like being …

Feeling lonely? USC's "director of belonging" explains how to make friends and feel better
4 years, 10 months ago

Feeling lonely? USC's "director of belonging" explains how to make friends and feel better

Salon  

The coronavirus has forced many of us into an indefinite state of social isolation. "It's really important to me that we don't think of loneliness as an epidemic because that language makes us feel like it's a disease and like there is something wrong with us, and that it is contagious," Moore told Salon in an interview. I think people …

10 Little Things To Do When You're Feeling Lonely
5 years, 2 months ago

10 Little Things To Do When You're Feeling Lonely

Huff Post  

d3sign via Getty Images It's been one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. “Loneliness and shame tell me I’m broken and unlovable, better off in the safety of my isolation because once people see the real me, they won’t stick around anyway,” Bruneau said. Say to yourself: “It’s understandable you’re feeling lonely right now; you’re a …

Most Americans Are Lonely, And Our Workplace Culture May Not Be Helping
5 years, 2 months ago

Most Americans Are Lonely, And Our Workplace Culture May Not Be Helping

NPR  

Most Americans Are Lonely, And Our Workplace Culture May Not Be Helping toggle caption Estelle Johnson/EyeEm/Getty Images More than three in five Americans are lonely, with more and more people reporting feeling like they are left out, poorly understood and lacking companionship, according to a new survey released Thursday. Sponsor Message Pervasive loneliness "has widespread effects," says Bert Uchino, a …

I'm 53 And Completely Alone For The First Time In My Life
5 years, 8 months ago

I'm 53 And Completely Alone For The First Time In My Life

Huff Post  

Ashley Collins with her cat, Sugar, her rabbit, Cocoa, and her two dogs, Charlie and Hank. But each time one of my kids left home they took a piece of me with them, and it feels like my body hasn’t grown enough scar tissue to fill in the empty spaces. But each time one of my kids left home they …

Feeling isolated? You're not alone. Here's why 1 in 4 of us is lonely
6 years, 4 months ago

Feeling isolated? You're not alone. Here's why 1 in 4 of us is lonely

ABC  

Humans are social creatures. If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline on 13 11 14 beyondblue on 1300 224 636 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 Headspace on 1800 650 890 QLife on 1800 184 527 The Australian Loneliness Report in 2018 found an …

Five myths about loneliness
7 years, 1 month ago

Five myths about loneliness

BBC  

Five myths about loneliness Getty Images Loneliness has been called a modern epidemic. 2) There’s an epidemic of loneliness at the moment Loneliness is undoubtedly getting a higher profile, but that doesn’t mean that a higher percentage of people feel lonely now compared to a few years ago. Using studies going back to 1948, Christina Victor from Brunel University has …

The loneliness epidemic: We're more connected than ever - but are we feeling more alone?
10 years ago

The loneliness epidemic: We're more connected than ever - but are we feeling more alone?

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

Loneliness Bodes Poorly For A Healthy Old Age
12 years, 9 months ago

Loneliness Bodes Poorly For A Healthy Old Age

NPR  

Loneliness Bodes Poorly For A Healthy Old Age Enlarge this image toggle caption Gary Radler Photography/iStockphoto.com Gary Radler Photography/iStockphoto.com They're time-consuming, demanding and require birthday cards, but they may help keep you alive. People over 60 who felt lonely had a 45 percent higher risk of death than those who weren't lonely, the six-year-long study found. The lonely people in …

Susie Rushton: Loneliness can be a companion, too
14 years, 10 months ago

Susie Rushton: Loneliness can be a companion, too

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It's a detachment felt in one's …

Loneliness May Be Contagious
15 years, 4 months ago

Loneliness May Be Contagious

Wired  

Staying socially connected may be just as important for public health as washing your hands and covering your cough. "People on the edge of the network spread their loneliness to others and then cut their ties," says Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School in Boston, a coauthor of the new study in the December Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. …

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