Why does being lonely make you ill?

 

Why does being lonely make you ill?

Loneliness is thought to be rising around the world and how often you see friends and family could have a significant effect on health. Loneliness has a wide range of negative effects on both physical and mental health. Some of the the health risks associated with loneliness include:2

•        Depression and suicide

•        Cardiovascular disease and stroke

•        Increased stress levels

•        Decreased memory and learning

•        Antisocial behaviour

•        Poor decision-making

•        Alcoholism and drug abuse

While common definitions of loneliness describe it as a state of solitude or being alone, loneliness is actually a state of mind. Loneliness causes people to feel empty, alone and unwanted. People who are lonely often crave human contact, but their state of mind makes it more difficult to form connections with other people. Loneliness, according to many experts, is not necessarily about being alone. Instead, it is the perception of being alone and isolated that matters most. For example, a college student might feel lonely despite being surrounded by roommates and others.

Loneliness is a universal human emotion, yet it is both complex and unique to each individual. Loneliness has no single common cause, so the preventions and treatments for this damaging state of mind vary dramatically. Doctors have known for some time that loneliness is bad for the mind. It leads to mental health problems like depression, stress, anxiety, and a lack of confidence.But there's growing evidence that social isolation is connected with an increased risk of physical ill health as well.

According to research by John Cacioppo, a University of Chicago psychologist and one of the top loneliness experts, loneliness is strongly connected to genetics. Other contributing factors include situational variables, such as physical isolation, moving to a new location and divorce. The death of someone significant in a person's life can also lead to feelings of loneliness. Loneliness can also be a symptom of a psychological disorder such as depression.

Loneliness can also be attributed to internal factors such as low self-esteem. People who lack confidence in themselves often believe that they are unworthy of the attention or regard of other people. This can lead to isolation and chronic loneliness.

There are suggestions it can make some diseases both more likely to occur and more likely to be fatal. In 2006, a study of 2,800 women who had breast cancer showed those who saw few friends or family were as much as five times more likely to die of their disease than women with many social contacts. Researchers are trying to figure out what loneliness does to the body which can lead to illness and death.

Research has shown that loneliness can impact stress, heart health and immunity. But these are not the only areas in which loneliness takes its toll. "Lonely adults consume more alcohol and get less exercise than those who are not lonely," explained John Cacioppo, co-author of the book Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection in an interview with U.S. News and World Report. "Their diet is higher in fat, their sleep is less efficient, and they report more daytime fatigue. Loneliness also disrupts the regulation of cellular processes deep within the body, predisposing us to premature aging."

Psychologists at University of Chicago and Ohio State University have shown that people who are socially isolated develop changes in their immune system, which leads to a condition called chronic inflammation. Short term inflammation is necessary for us to heal after a cut or an infection, but if the inflammation persists in the long-term it can contribute towards cardiovascular disease and cancer.

At the University of Chicago, scientists found that lonely people find everyday activities more stressful than those who are not socially isolated. They measured levels of cortisol, a hormone that's produced when we are stressed, in a wide range of healthy people in the morning and evening. Lonely people released more cortisol. The scientists suggest that too much of the hormone causes inflammation and disease.

The latest work from Ohio State University looked at levels of inflammation in response to stress in lonely people. Dr Lisa Jaremka compared women who have survived breast cancer with healthy volunteers. She gave the participants a well-known stress test, called the Trier Social Stress Test, in which they had to give an impromptu speech explaining why they were the best candidate for a job, in front of a stony-faced panel.

Scientists need to find ways to help lonely people. Unfortunately they can't tell anyone to go out and find someone to love you. They then had to perform a mental arithmetic task before the a panel of scientist.Loneliness tests and blood samples showed that in both groups, the lonelier people had higher levels of inflammation. Dr Jaremka said: "If you're lonely you can have raised inflammation regardless of having a chronic medical condition. It was a struggle for a long time for physicians to recognise the importance of loneliness in health. They now know how important it is to understand patients' social worlds.

Loneliness can send a person down a path toward bad health, and even more intense loneliness, studies have shown. But while some have assumed the culprit was a dearth of others to remind a person to take care of himself or herself, between being lonely and ill health.Loneliness can set into a motion a barrage of negative impacts inside the human body — but with additional social contact, some of the ill effects can be stopped.

The number of people who are likely to be lonely is rising all over the world. Many of these are elderly, left by themselves after their partners have died or their families have moved away.Half of over 75 year olds in the UK live alone, and one in 10 suffer intense loneliness.Dr Jaremka said: "Being lonely means not feeling connected or cared for, it's not about being physically alone. We need to find ways to help lonely people.. We need to create support networks.

John Cacioppo offers a few tips on how to overcome loneliness:

1.Recognize that loneliness is a sign that something needs to change.

2.Understand the effects that loneliness has on your life, both physically and mentally.

3.Consider doing community service or another activity that you enjoy.

4.These situations present great opportunities to meet people and cultivate new friendships and social interactions.

5.Focus on developing quality relationships with people who share similar attitudes, interests and values with you.

6.Expect the best. Lonely people often expect rejection, so instead focus on positive thoughts and attitudes in your social relationships.

Please note if you are alone, create some constructive hobby, read, listen music, and spend some time in the company of nature and the friends of positive thinking.