A Letter To Loneliness
Have you ever asked yourself, Why do I feel alone in a crowded room? If yes, then it will be a relief to know it’s not uncommon. Researches portray that normal social being is inclined to feel isolated or detached at some point in their life. It is a self-demeaning process. You feel less in some way or you cannot relate to others in the room.
What we often fail to register is the difference between the very concepts of being alone and feeling lonely. Solitude and Loneliness are not relatable. A person can feel disconnected and lonely even as part of a crowd; while some others who feel secure in their own company are content and serene and may never experience loneliness.
Loneliness
The Collins English Dictionary defines Loneliness as unhappiness that is felt by someone because of the absence of friends or they do not have anyone to talk to. It is an emotional response to an individual’s perception of isolation. Millions around the globe are socially active and extroverted, but equally inclined towards loneliness. It has no degrees of measurement when it comes to being socially active and lonely at the same time.
Fact: 8 Years of life expectancy are lost as the direct impact of loneliness.
Loneliness is a very generic human emotion, but unique in terms of experiencing. We assimilate and react to it in our own individual ways. Doctors have argued over classifying it as a disease. Researches suggest that feeling lonely can lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, insomnia, and stress.
Fact: The findings, based on an analysis of more than 300,000 people, suggest social isolation is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or being an alcoholic.
So What Exactly Leads People To Feel Lonely?
Researches suggest loneliness be categorized based on situations.
- People who belong to a particular group such as socioeconomic disparities, and cultural disparities.
- Estrangement from a loved one or family.
- Discrimination or stigma based on gender, some form of physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or financial status.
- Discrimination based on the fact of being a trauma survivor, etc.
How To Address The Elephant In The Room?
Studies exhibit that individualized interventions are a necessity when it comes to coping with loneliness. Each individual experience is a response, a detailed study. These are psychological triggers that make people seek out connections.
Philosophers believe loneliness to be an enigma of thoughts; in fact, a way of life itself. It is in the very being of being human. It transcends the limits of the human thought realm. It leads people to the belief as humans are social beings, the support of their peers is a boon.
Fact: According to a study, the support of family, friends, and neighbors can increase your chances of living to a healthy old age by 50 percent.
So, the next time you feel lonely, never shy away. Speak about it with your family or friends. Letting it all out leads to contentment. Don’t stay cooped up. Go out, join a support group, or if not an online community. Every cloud has a silver lining. Believe that the light will shine through; it will be bright one day.
#Speaking out heals
This letter was written as a part of a project, Dear Loneliness. Do feel free to contribute to this project and share your thoughts.
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References:
- ‘Loneliness is a killer: It’s as bad for your health as alcoholism, smoking and over-eating, say scientists’ | Mail Online| David Derbyshire | Available at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1298225/Loneliness-killer-Its-bad-health-alcoholism-smoking-eating-say-scientists.html
- ‘Loneliness Definition And Meaning’ | Collins Dictionary | Available at https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/loneliness#:~:text=Loneliness%20is%20the%20unhappiness%20that,Quick%20word%20challenge
- ‘Loneliness: A disease?’ | PubMed Central- National Centre for Biotechnology Information | Sarvada Chandra Tiwari | Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3890922/
- ‘About Loneliness’ | Mind, the mental health charity | Available at https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/loneliness/about-loneliness/
