Loneliness, a Carcinogen?
I watched a docu-series not too long ago called This Emotional Life and they cited research that found that chronic loneliness can be (and often is) just as or more dangerous than smoking.
Dr. John Cacioppo, a University of Chicago psychologist and one of the top loneliness experts, has found that loneliness can cause a string of physical and psychological issues, such as:
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- Disrupted Sleep Patterns
- Suicidal Tendencies
- Schizoid Characteristics (it can literally drive you to diagnosed insanity)
- Increased likelihood of addiction (drugs, alcohol, pornography, etc.)
- Lack of Focus
- Irrational Fears
- Obesity
Studies have also found that loneliness can be caused by more than the lack of various social relationships, some people are genetically prone to feelings of extreme or chronic loneliness. But, it's clearly not just a genetic problem. Loneliness is a common human emotion and condition. Chronic loneliness is so debilitating because it's a slippery, erosive slide. What starts as a reasonable reaction to a life-changing event, like a death or loss, can become addictive in and of itself.
Dr. Cacioppo has found that there are multiple ways of coping with chronic loneliness. Many of them seem a little extreme as I see them, but they include:
- Psychological Therapy
- Dieting
- Hypnotherapy
- Acupuncture
- Electric Shock Therapy
- Herbal Treatments
All of these seem more like what you could look into if you were coping with serious levels of loneliness that hasn't been shaken by more typical treatments, such as:
- Increased social interaction
- Exercise
- Buying a pet (which has proven to not only lessen loneliness, but lower cholesterol, high blood pressure and the presence of a hormone called Interleukin-6 which is linked with heart disease)
- Community Service
Another dangerous aspect of chronic loneliness is that it is often a self-fulfilling prophesy. Those who suffer most from chronic loneliness deeply fear it and unwittingly estrange themselves from meaningful social interactions in order to protect themselves from abandonment, and thus create more estranged and difficult relationships.
One of the more fascinating aspects of the study was that loneliness is now known to be contagious. In this study psychologist have mapped out how loneliness spreads through social networks over 10 years. The study notes that people who are close to those who suffer from chronic loneliness are 52% more likely to experience chronic loneliness themselves, even if they are of no familial relation or hold no deep personal connection (like a spouse or romantic partner).
For more info on loneliness:
Comments
Post a Comment