Sajila Nudrat | Health Editor
Featured Image: Rising rates of loneliness are affecting people’s physical health. | Courtesy of Pexels
Loneliness can be described as a state of solitude that causes a person to feel alone. While it’s actually a state of mind that is known to affect a person’s mental health, it can be just as detrimental to a person’s physical health. According to Ami Rokach a psychologist at York, loneliness not only affects the quality of a person’s life, but it’s length too.
The cold temperature doesn’t make it any better. While Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that occurs due to the changing seasons—it is something that occurs most commonly in the winter time. Suffering from the disorder can ultimately lead to feelings of isolation.
While loneliness can cause heightened rates of depression, anxiety and irritability, it is also associated with potentially fatal health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity. Research shows that the stigma surrounding loneliness prevents people who experience intense forms of it from seeking help. This is a widespread issue, and studies show that one in five Canadians identify as being lonely. People can feel lonely even in a room full of entertainers, as it’s more than just a feeling of sadness that comes and goes.
Some factors that have contributed to the increase in people suffering from loneliness include high divorce rates, dependence on technology, and urbanization. It can also be attributed to the staggering number of individuals who are living on their own. Regardless of the reason why loneliness occurs, the truth of the matter is that it is a growing phenomenon, and it’s important that it is combated.
A great way to cope with feelings of loneliness is to stay active. A lot of the time, people tend to get stuck in the daily routines they have created for themselves; consistently doing the same thing, day in and day out, can lead to feelings of being stuck in a rut.
To avoid such scenarios, it’s important for a person to change their surroundings every so often. The best way to do this is to partake in an activity—whether by joining a class or simply doing something that is enjoyable—it doesn’t really matter what the activity is or where it’s done, it just matters that it is done. Partaking in different activities can open up many avenues, and numerous possibilities; a person becomes exposed to new people and different experiences.
It’s important for people to find a support system. It can be found in a person’s surroundings or even online. Establishing positive relationships can positively affect a person’s mood and increase their desire to want to reach out and maintain close connections.
While it’s understandable that this may all be good on paper and harder to implement, one of the ways to get better is by simply trying, getting up, and doing the best a person can.
