Loneliness:
The contemporary generation frequently expresses loneliness and a lack of human and social attachment in the fast-paced, highly industrialized world.
Loneliness is the state of feeling alone and isolated, with the inability to have social interactions or communication. It is not just associated with the absence of physical company, it is a mental state. Loneliness could also eventually take a toll on physical and psychological health, leading to conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, and much more.
Effects of loneliness and isolation:
The initial state of isolated feelings further builds the basis of how one perceives the world. The several effects of loneliness and isolation are:
Mental health effects of loneliness
The condition of loneliness when not paid attention to will have impacts on mental health and may lead to:
- Anxiety: Feeling anxious, nervous and all by oneself could be because of lack of moral support. One can develop anxiety due to feelings of isolation.
- Depression: The inability to have a social life and the loneliness that one might feel will lead to a state of mental depression.
- Low self-esteem: Due to the lone state that one is in, as well as the social alienation that may instill low self-esteem, the feeling of considering less of oneself and their potential is possible.
Sleep problems: An individual can undergo sleep deprivation when they are preoccupied with thoughts and doubts, along with a constant feeling of being on a cliff all alone. The human brain has many functions to perform in terms of thinking and it will not find any time or need to rest.
Effects of loneliness in adolescence:
Adolescence is a transitional stage when an individual undergoes physical and mental changes, with the body maturing to reproduce. It is the time when a teenager will start searching for their identity and their social communication will shift. With all these factors joining in, loneliness during adolescence could also arise due to the inability to identify themselves with adults of society or with other children.
Physical impacts of loneliness:
- Increase in blood pressure: With loneliness, the level of blood pressure increases proportionately, as it will increase the level of cortisol, a stress hormone.
- Heart disease: The increase in the level of blood pressure might cause difficulty in the functioning of the heart.
- Stroke: The increase in the level of blood pressure and stress that could be a potential result of loneliness might eventually lead to a stroke.
These conditions might result in long-term effects of loneliness, if not treated or looked upon at the earliest.
Battle loneliness:
Becoming a volunteer: One can rescue pets or help elderlies. Volunteering helps in socializing.
Music: Optimistic and soothing tunes or favorite tracks might lift the spirit and fight away the confined state that one might be in.
4-legged friends: Having a furry friend around might give a sense of company and take away the loneliness that one might experience.
Hope this blog helped in gaining some information on loneliness. The blog is to bring awareness among people and not to substitute for doctors’ advice. Please visit a psychologist if symptoms persist.
