stressed black man sitting on couch

Loneliness is literally killing us | Will Wright

lonely individuals had a 26% higher risk of dying. This figure rose to 32% if they lived alone. https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilhowe/2019/05/03/millennials-and-the-loneliness-epidemic/?sh=6ca0aeda7676 Healthcare tech entrepreneur Will Wright shares the strong impact that loneliness has on our health, and proposes a novel idea for how we can easily connect with others and combat its effect. Millennials And The Loneliness…

What  does loneliness look like in the brain ?

What does loneliness look like in the brain ?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201215082059.htm The researchers found several differences in the brains of lonely people. These brain manifestations were centred on what is called the default network: a set of brain regions involved in inner thoughts such as reminiscing, future planning, imagining and thinking about others. Researchers found the default networks of lonely people were more strongly wired…

Sense of belonging

Sense of belonging

https://msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/literature-reviews/social-connectedness-and-wellbeing.html A sense of belonging is the feeling of being connected to and valued by other people. Whether it is sourced from family, friends, co-workers, club members, or a church community, people have an inherent desire to belong and be part of something greater than themselves. Having a sense of belonging is a protective factor…

Social connectedness and wellbeing

Social connectedness and wellbeing

Based on the review of the literature, three common components of social connectedness can be identified as socialising, Social support, and Sense of belonging. In its most narrow form, social connectedness refers to the social ties between people. Importantly, consideration must be given as to whether this is simply a person’s number of friends and…

Emotional loneliness is a bigger risk factor than depression, heart disease, diabetes & stroke for cognitive decline

Emotional loneliness is a bigger risk factor than depression, heart disease, diabetes & stroke for cognitive decline according to research by Dr Catherine Whitehouse. She says society needs to talk openly about the value of emotional connection #MasseyGrad https://t.co/Li2VgokDs7 pic.twitter.com/EtwOuuUlpq — Massey University (@MasseyUni) December 10, 2019

Insight into ‘loneliness epidemic’ among older adults

Insight into ‘loneliness epidemic’ among older adults

http://bit.ly/34aOyXg Bianca Suanet , PhD, and Theo G. van Tilburg, PhD, of Vrije University in Amsterdam, also assessed loneliness among older adults and found that they were less lonely than their counterparts from previous generations. “Most interventions that combat loneliness are not very effective, most likely because they do not facilitate lonely people to actively…

Lonliness: a mind game you play with yourself

Lonliness: a mind game you play with yourself

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/loneliness-in-older-women Being alone is a mind game that you have to play with yourself. It requires tenacity and strength to believe that you are not going to disappear, that people will remember you, that someone will come looking for you before your face is eaten by cats. That’s why I keep a dog; needy and…

Intrinsic biological mechanism that compels isolated animals to seek out companionship

Intrinsic biological mechanism that compels isolated animals to seek out companionship

https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-evidence-for-the-necessity-of-loneliness-20160510/ But how did these powerful communities come to exist in the first place? Cacioppo proposes that the root of social ties lies in their opposite — loneliness. According to his theory, the pain of being alone motivates us to seek the safety of companionship, which in turn benefits the species by encouraging group cooperation…

You can’t argue with someone who says they’re lonely

You can’t argue with someone who says they’re lonely

https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/major-depression/depression-feeling-lonely/ Everyone feels lonely from time to time, but for some, loneliness comes far too often. Feeling lonely can plague many people — including the elderly, people who are isolated, and those with depression — with symptoms such as sadness, isolation, and withdrawal. Loneliness can strike a person who lives alone or someone who lives…