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\nThe U.S. is facing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA said in a press release on May 3.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nEven before the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement said, about half of American adults reported feeling lonely. And this isn't simply a recipe for unhappiness\u2014loneliness makes a person more likely to develop mental health issues, and it can increase the risk for premature death by more than 60%.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\u201dOur epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis,\u201d\u00a0Dr. Murthy said in the press release. \u201cWe must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders.\u201d<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nHere\u2019s what experts had to say about the ways in which loneliness affects our bodies, and the best ways to overcome feeling of isolation to boost longterm health.\n<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/p>\n \nResearchers have long observed that loneliness is linked to poor health, explained Natalie Christine Dattilo, PhD, clinical psychologist and instructor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. But the issue now seems to have more weight.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThe pandemic created a unique opportunity to observe the natural consequences of reduced or restricted social interaction in humans,\u201d Dattilo told Health.<\/em>\u00a0\u201cWhat is new is the spotlight on loneliness and conversations around its consequences.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nHow a person defines their loneliness varies, she added. While some people describe loneliness as physical isolation or social disconnection, others experience a deep sense of emptiness or a longing for inclusion, intimacy, friendship, or community.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cNo matter how a person experiences it, however, loneliness is unwanted and unpleasant,\u201d Dattilo said. \u201cEven those who enjoy their \u2018alone time\u2019 can experience loneliness. Indeed, individuals in committed and healthy relationships can often feel lonely. That\u2019s because loneliness is in the \u2018eye of the beholder.\u2019\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nDespite how difficult it is to define, feeling lonely can have clear and substantial effects on the body.\n<\/p>\n \nLoneliness puts a person at a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults.<\/span> Being lonely also results in an elevated mortality risk that is similar to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nIt can also double an adult\u2019s risk of developing depression as compared to those who rarely feel lonely. And children who feel socially isolated face higher risks of anxiety and depression during childhood and later on in adulthood, too.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nSocial isolation also seems to be getting more common\u2014between 2003 and 2020, the amount of time people spent engaging in-person with friends, family, and extended family declined. In contrast, the amount of time spent alone increased.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \nEven still, these markers can\u2019t perfectly predict how many people feel loneliness. A person can be in a room full of people or have great relationships and friendships and still feel alone.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThis can make it a very difficult experience to generalize and in a clinical sense, treat,\u201d said Dattilo.\n<\/p>\n Mental Illness Is on the Rise<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> <\/p>\n \nDespite the complexity of loneliness and the many ways that it can affect our health, there are still methods out there to ease feelings of loneliness.\u00a0While strategies for tackling loneliness are unique to each individual, the following are some to try out.\n<\/p>\n \nRather than blaming yourself for feeling lonely or correlating loneliness with being broken, reframe how you think about it, said Caroline Leaf, PhD, a clinical and cognitive neuroscientist.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cSee it as a signal letting you know that something essential to how you function as a human is missing\u2014it is a signpost telling you more about yourself and what you need to live your best life,\u201d Leaf told Health<\/em>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \nSimply seeing human faces and making eye contact is important for connection, said Dattilo.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cIn fact, we have specific structures in the brain dedicated to this activity alone,\u201d she said. \u201cAim to interact or simply be among other people at least once a day.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nEach week, take some time to plan face-to-face interactions, whether that be a work lunch, a coffee with a friend, or a walk with a neighbor.\n<\/p>\n \nThink about activities to engage in that require you to get out of your house. Leaf suggested starting a book club, hiking, attending church or a spiritual center, or arranging dinners at local restaurants and inviting someone new each time.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThis may be a little uncomfortable at first, but just remember everyone loves to be included, and you never know who may be really struggling,\u201d she said. \u201cThe simple act of reaching out may be what helps someone heal.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nWhile phones can be a means to connection, limiting the time you spend on them can help you connect with people in other ways, said Leaf. \n<\/p>\n \n\u201cSome of the worst effects of electronic devices seem to be mitigated when devices are used less than two hours a day,\u201d she said. \u201cIncrease your face-to-face interaction with your loved ones. Maybe put your phone aside when you are eating. Or leave it at home when you go for a walk.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nWhile close relationships are fulfilling, Dattilo said experiencing different levels of interaction is important.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cCasual encounters are just as key to our happiness as deep meaningful ones,\u201d she said. \u201cAim to make small talk with someone familiar, or unfamiliar, twice a week,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n \nLeaf suggested putting effort into being more friendly.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cWhen you are in a small space with a stranger, such as an elevator, smile and say hello instead of looking at the floor or your phone. Think of ways to start a conversation,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n \nGiving and receiving sincere thank\u2013yous is associated with greater levels of self-reported happiness, said Dattilo. That can be as simple as thanking a cashier at the grocery store, she said.\n<\/p>\n \nReaching out to people in your life and letting them know how much they mean to you is another way to show gratitude.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cSend an email or text to someone, telling them you are thinking of them, or invite someone to dinner,\u201d Leaf said. \u201cDevelop a habit of reaching out to friends, family, and colleagues and see if they need anything, even if you just send them a little word of encouragement now and then.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Lagom Can Be Your Path to Living a Balanced Life<\/span><\/p>\n \nFinding moments to serve others can build community, Leaf explained.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cIt also reminds us that we have value to bring to the world, which helps us feel connected to those around us,\u201d she said. \u201cThis could be as simple as helping a colleague at work who is having a rough time, reaching out to a friend or family member who you know is struggling, [or] helping a stranger at a shop who doesn\u2019t have enough change for parking.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nMaking others feel heard can build mutual feelings of connection.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cListen to understand by asking questions instead of offering solutions or sharing similar experiences,\u201d said Dattilo. \u201cFeeling heard and understood is really at the core of feeling connected.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nIn Leaf\u2019s book Think, Learn, Succeed<\/em>, she discusses how reaching out to loved ones when you are in need can help you feel confident enough to discover your own sense of self-worth. \n<\/p>\n \n\u201cFinding life difficult at times is not something to be ashamed of, while suppressing emotions will only make matters worse. Talk to a friend, a family member, a local counselor, or an online help center. The key to healing is not in pretending you are always okay,\u201d she said. \u201cRather, healing comes from being proactive in seeking help and helping others.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nSometimes loneliness can be a trigger for engaging in activities that are unhealthy, such as using alcohol to excess, using drugs, or engaging in risky sexual practices, said Dattilo.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cIf this is a pattern you recognize in yourself, consider reaching out for support or professional assistance in developing healthier habits and skills for creating connection,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n \nFor those who aren\u2019t comfortable around others, Dattilo said a strong sense of connection can also be developed within.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cYou can achieve the same or similar protective effects by developing a greater sense of connection to self. Or, to nature. To pets. To a cause. To your values. To your purpose. To your higher power, consciousness, religion, spirituality, the \u2018greater good,\u2019 or humanity,\u201d she said. \u201cMost times, those things don\u2019t require other people, but sometimes can be enhanced by the presence of like-minded others.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Loneliness in the U.S. has become a \u201cpublic health crisis,\u201d Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said on May 3. It can be challenging to define loneliness, but feeling socially isolated can substantially degrade people's mental and physical health. Experts say there are many ways people can decrease loneliness and connect with others, such as expressing gratitude, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17198,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[923,410],"tags":[924,116],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17198"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17198"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17198\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n How Does Human Connection Impact Health? <\/span> <\/h2>\n
11 Ways to Feel Less Lonely <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t blame yourself <\/span> <\/h3>\n
See people face-to-face <\/span> <\/h3>\n
Leave your house <\/span> <\/h3>\n
Turn off your phone <\/span> <\/h3>\n
Make small talk <\/span> <\/h3>\n
Express gratitude daily <\/span> <\/h3>\n
Serve others <\/span> <\/h3>\n
Listen to others <\/span> <\/h3>\n
Be vulnerable <\/span> <\/h3>\n
Avoid unhealthy ways to connect <\/span> <\/h3>\n
Find connection in unexpected ways <\/span> <\/h3>\n