Loneliness is more than just feeling sad when you’re by yourself. It’s a real emotion that can affect your physical and mental health. If you’re feeling lonely, you’re not alone— approximately 42.6 million adults in the United States suffer from chronic loneliness. Here are five ways that loneliness can affect your life.
Weakened Immune System
When you’re lonely, your body produces more stress hormone cortisol. This hormone can suppress the immune system , making you more susceptible to illness. In one study, researchers found that people who felt lonely were more likely to catch a cold after being exposed to the virus than those who didn’t feel lonely.
Risk of Heart Disease
Studies have shown a link between loneliness and heart disease risk. One theory is that Lonely people are more likely to have unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and not exercising, which can lead to heart disease. Loneliness can also cause high blood pressure and inflammation, risk factors for heart disease.
Can Lead to Depression
Loneliness and depression often go hand-in-hand. When you’re feeling lonely, you may start to withdraw from activities you once enjoyed and become isolated from family and friends. This isolation can lead to depression. If you feel lonely and think you may be depressed, you must talk to your doctor or mental health professional.
Insomnia
If you’re struggling with loneliness, you may find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep at night. This is because when people are stressed or anxious, their bodies produce cortisol, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Additionally, when people are lonely, they may ruminate about their feelings of isolation, which can also keep them up at night.
Cognitive Health
Loneliness has been linked to cognitive decline and dementia. One theory is that social isolation can lead to brain structure and function changes. Additionally, loneliness can increase levels of inflammation in the brain, which has been linked to cognitive decline. However, it’s important to note that more research is needed in this area before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.
Loneliness is a natural emotion that can severely affect your physical and mental health. Thankfully, there are ways to deal with it. Here are some of those ways.
Therapy
Therapy is one of the best ways to deal with chronic loneliness. It can help you regain your lost confidence and self-esteem as well. It can also help you deal with any other problems you might have. Here are three available therapies that are known to deal with loneliness:
Talk Therapy
Talking is a powerful form of therapy. It helps you process your thoughts and feelings, especially with the help of a therapist. Talk therapy can also help you identify negative thoughts or behaviors contributing to your loneliness and work on changing them.
Group Therapy
Talking about your feelings with others who are also lonely can be helpful. Group therapy allows for bonding and support from others who may understand what you’re going through/
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thoughts and behaviors that may contribute to loneliness. It can also teach coping skills for dealing with lonely feelings in the future.
Dating
People who are not experiencing chronic loneliness but just loneliness don’t necessarily need to get therapy. One thing they can consider is dating. This particular activity can also help you gain confidence and find someone who will be with you for the rest of your life. If you’re struggling to find a date, here are a few options.
Matchmaking Sites
If you want a more streamlined approach to your sites, you should try matchmaking sites. These sites help you find someone who has the same interests are you. Some elite matchmaking sites use modern technology to help you find someone. These sites use various algorithms to find the best match for you. It’s one of the most reliable ways to get a date nowadays.
Social Activities
Joining social activities can also help in your search for companionship. It allows for meeting new people and potentially finding someone who shares common interests with you. Some examples of social activities include joining a club, taking a class, volunteering, or attending community events.
Join a Club or Group
Joining a club or group that interests you can also help you meet new people and potentially find someone to date. This can be anything from a hiking group to a cooking class. It’ll give you something in common with other members, making it easier to start a conversation and build relationships.
Take Up a New Hobby
Taking up a new hobby can also help you meet new people who share your interest in this new recent activity. It’s like joining a club, but instead of meeting once or twice a week, you may see these people regularly at the gym or certain classes for your hobby. And as they say, people bond over shared interests.
Loneliness is a natural emotion that can adversely affect your health if it stays for too long. But there are ways to deal with it. Following some tips above, you can deal with loneliness and become a better person. And remember, don’t be afraid to seek help if needed. You deserve to be happy and have companionship in your life.
