Even though we are more virtually "connected," rates of loneliness are increasing.
The depth of our relationships are important, meaning that we can feel lonely even when surrounded by people.
In this interactive virtual essay, Alvin Chang highlights findings from the American Time Use Survey (https://www.bls.gov/tus/) and how loneliness has a negative impact on us physically, emotionally, and socially.
"...socially isolated people are 50% more likely to die prematurely – the equivalent of having six alcoholic drinks a day or smoking 15 cigarettes a day."
When feeling lonely, we may feel more angry, stressed, and have lower self-esteem.
The more isolated we feel the more we may feel threatened by social interactions, resulting in our continued isolation.
Call to action:
- Reach out to someone in your life who you feel may be experiencing loneliness.
- If you are feeling lonely, reach out to someone who has made you feel valued in a healthy way in the past.