Loneliness is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It has become a global public health problem! Is there an antidote?

Author: Duan Yuechu

Loneliness is a feeling of inner isolation that is said to be as harmful to health as tobacco. Research by experts such as Julianne Holt-Lunstad shows that loneliness has a serious impact on our health. It not only has a negative impact on our psychological health, but also directly impacts our physical health. Compared with other behaviors that are harmful to our health, the harm of loneliness may be underestimated. In fact, when we are lonely, it is actually like smoking about half a pack of cigarettes a day, which causes considerable damage to the body.

The analogy of loneliness and health: smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day may sound exaggerated, but it is true. The comparison between loneliness and daily smoking is not for attention-grabbing purposes, but to make people aware of the lasting impact loneliness may have on health. Just like smoking every day, loneliness will seep into our lives and have long-term negative physical and mental effects. This analogy may alert us to pay attention to our emotional state at all times, and take effective measures in time after realizing the severity of the loneliness problem. Because, after all, like smoking, loneliness will quietly erode our health without us noticing.

In addition to the direct harm to health, loneliness can also put pressure on our mental health and even accelerate brain decline. When we are lonely for a long time, the stress becomes more unbearable, which also makes our brain more fragile and more susceptible to external influences. Studies have shown that lack of social relationships can lead to the degeneration of brain function and even accelerate the aging process of the brain. This shows that loneliness is not just a psychological state, but is quietly eroding our bodies and brains. Therefore, we must recognize these potential harms of loneliness and take timely actions to drive loneliness out of our lives.

Loneliness not only has a negative impact on the individual's physical and mental health, but also on overall well-being. When we are lonely, we are prone to feeling lost, helpless, and depressed, and these emotions will gradually invade our hearts and take a toll on our overall sense of well-being. Under the shadow of loneliness, people often find it more difficult to feel the joy of life, and they lose confidence and expectations for the future. Over a long period of time, this negative emotion will accumulate in our hearts and will affect our overall living conditions and even our attitudes and behaviors towards life. Therefore, we must recognize the harm that loneliness does to our overall well-being, listen to the true voice in our hearts, and strive to find positive ways to resist the negative effects of loneliness.

The power that opposes loneliness is close relationships and social networks. People's relationship networks are the most powerful weapon against loneliness, which can bring people warmth, support and a sense of security. Whether it is with family, friends or colleagues, building good relationships can provide psychological, emotional and practical support. At the same time, socializing can also make us feel a sense of belonging, promote self-esteem and self-realization. Interacting with others can also help relieve stress, reduce anxiety, and even improve mental health. In social interactions, we can share each other's happiness and sadness, thereby reducing loneliness. Therefore, actively engaging in social life, building more interpersonal relationships, communicating frankly, and sharing emotions are all effective ways to resist loneliness.

Experts point out that overcoming loneliness needs to start from the little things in daily life. They encourage people to build connections with individuals around them every day, which can be with the person who delivers the mail, the cashier at the grocery store, or even the neighbor. We can take the initiative to talk to others in our daily lives, seek resonance, and establish emotional bonds. In addition, participating in social activities, volunteer activities, interest groups, etc. are good ways to expand social circles and avoid loneliness. Maintaining good interpersonal relationships and constantly making new friends are effective ways recommended by experts. At the same time, experts also encourage people to open their hearts and bravely express their emotions and needs, because in sincere communication, we may find understanding and support. In short, the advice given by experts is to keep loneliness away from our lives through positive social interactions and sincere emotional expressions, so that we can become happier and healthier people.

I hope this article about loneliness can help you better understand the harm of loneliness and find effective ways to deal with it. No matter what difficulties you encounter in life, don't forget: you are not alone, because there are many people around you who are just like you, eager to establish connections with others, eager to be understood and cared for. May each of us thrive in warm relationships and say goodbye to loneliness.

References:

https://bigthink.com/series/great-question/loneliness-epidemic/