Do you feel lonely? Understand the causes and effects of loneliness

Loneliness is a feeling that affects many of us, regardless of age, social status or location. Although it is often associated with physical isolation, it is actually a subjective experience associated with a lack of satisfying social relationships. In today's world, despite ubiquitous social media and the apparent ease of making friends, loneliness is becoming an increasingly common problem. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the causes and effects of loneliness, as well as how to deal with it.

What is loneliness?

Loneliness is an emotional state that occurs when we feel less connected to others than we would like. We may feel excluded, left out or neglected when we lack contact with loved ones or when the quality of these relationships does not meet our expectations. Loneliness, then, is not just a lack of contact with others, but more importantly a lack of deep, satisfying connections.

There are two types of loneliness: emotional and social. Emotional loneliness stems from the lack of a close, intimate relationship with a partner or friend with whom we could share our thoughts and feelings. Social loneliness is, in turn, the lack of a sense of belonging to a wider group, such as friends, colleagues, neighbors or people with similar interests. It is worth noting that fleeting, superficial contacts do not protect against loneliness. Moreover, relationships based on rivalry or negative emotions, such as at work, can even exacerbate feelings of loneliness.

How common is loneliness?

Studies show that the problem of loneliness affects a significant part of society. According to the survey, as many as 43% adult respondents declared that they felt loneliness. What's more, 10% of those surveyed felt seriously or very lonely. This means that plenty of people over the age of 18 are struggling with a strong sense of loneliness. Loneliness affects both men and women, although men are more likely to report social loneliness and women to report emotional loneliness. Particularly vulnerable to loneliness are older men over 65, single parents and, surprisingly, young people.

Where does loneliness come from?

There are many causes of loneliness and they can overlap. Risk factors include:

• Life Changes: Loss of a partner, moving, illness, old age, divorce. These situations can lead to the weakening or breaking of existing social ties and make it difficult to build new ones.
• Health problems: Chronic diseases, physical disabilities, dementia. These make it difficult to interact with others and participate in social life.
• Financial problems: may limit opportunities to spend time with others, such as lack of funds for outings or travel.
• Language barriers: People who do not speak Polish, such as immigrants, may find it difficult to establish contacts and integrate into society.
• Mental problems: Depression, anxiety, personality disorders, autism. These can make it difficult to establish and maintain relationships, and can lead to social withdrawal.
• Genetic factors: genetic predisposition can affect our sensitivity to loneliness and our ability to build relationships.

In addition to individual factors, the growing scale of loneliness is also influenced by social changes. Traditional social ties, such as neighborhood or religious communities, are disappearing. Many people are moving to big cities, where anonymity and the fast pace of life make it difficult to build lasting relationships. The development of technology, while facilitating communication on the one hand, can also lead to isolation and the replacement of real contacts with virtual ones.

Loneliness vs. stages of life

Loneliness is a feeling that affects many of us, regardless of age or social status. Although it is often associated with physical isolation, it is actually a subjective experience associated with a lack of satisfying relationships and deep ties with others. In today's world, despite the apparent ease of making connections, loneliness is becoming an increasingly common problem, affecting young and old alike. In this article, we will take a closer look at the causes and effects of loneliness and how to deal with it.

Loneliness at different ages

Children:

Although it may seem surprising, loneliness can affect even the youngest. Preschool children who are not yet able to express their emotions and needs freely may feel misunderstood and lonely, especially when interacting with peers. They may have difficulty making friends, feel fear of rejection or be afraid to express themselves. It is important for parents and caregivers to be attentive to their child's signals and create a safe and supportive environment for them to develop their social skills.

Youth:

Adolescence is a time of tumultuous changes, both physical and emotional. Young people face social pressures, search for their own identity, and experiment with different social roles. During this time, relationships with peers take on great importance, and a sense of acceptance and belonging to a group becomes crucial to well-being. Unfortunately, things don't always work out as planned. Adolescents can experience rejection, exclusion and cyberbullying, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. In addition, first loves, disappointments and injuries occur at this age, which can also contribute to feelings of loneliness.

Adults:

In adulthood, loneliness can have many causes. Difficulties in finding a partner, problems at work, lack of time to cultivate friendships, family conflicts - all of these can affect our feelings of loneliness. In addition, at this age we also often experience a sense of pressure to achieve professional and personal success. Many people focus on their careers, neglecting their social and emotional lives, which in the long run can lead to feelings of isolation.

Senior citizens:

Aging brings many challenges, including an increased risk of loneliness. Loss of loved ones, declining health, limited mobility, retirement - all of these can contribute to feelings of loneliness and isolation. The elderly often lose contact with their previous social environment, have fewer opportunities to meet other people and participate in social life. At this age, it is particularly important to provide older people with support and opportunities to maintain contact with others to prevent feelings of loneliness and its negative effects on physical and mental health.

Consequences of loneliness

Loneliness and health

The impact of loneliness on our health is definitely negative and affects both the physical and mental spheres. Scientific studies confirm that people who suffer from loneliness are more likely to suffer from various ailments and diseases.

Physical health:

• Weakened immune system: Loneliness can weaken our immune system, making us more susceptible to infection and disease.
• Cardiovascular problems: Single people are more likely to suffer from heart disease, hypertension and stroke.
• Metabolic disorders: Loneliness can contribute to the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
• Sleep problems: Single people often suffer from insomnia, have trouble sleeping and wake up during the night.
• Slower wound healing: Studies show that wounds in single people heal more slowly.
• Increased risk of mortality: Loneliness is a risk factor for premature death, comparable to smoking or obesity.

Mental Health:

• Depression and anxiety: Loneliness is one of the most common risk factors for depression and anxiety disorders.
• Addictions: Single people are more likely to turn to alcohol, drugs and other psychoactive substances.
• Concentration and memory problems: Loneliness can negatively affect cognitive functions such as concentration, memory and decision-making.
• Dementia: Studies suggest that loneliness may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
• Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness: Long-term feelings of loneliness can lead to a negative self-image, feelings of rejection and lack of value.
• Social withdrawal: Lonely people often avoid contact with others, which can lead to deepening isolation and exacerbating mental problems.

In the context of mental health, it is also worth mentioning the phenomenon of "lone brain". It turns out that loneliness can affect brain structure and function, causing changes in areas responsible for emotions, stress and social relationships.

Loneliness has serious consequences For our health and well-being. Therefore, it is important not to underestimate this problem and to seek help when we feel alone.

Is loneliness "contagious"?

The contagiousness of loneliness

Although it may seem strange, loneliness can indeed "spread" like a virus. The mechanism of this phenomenon is quite complex and results from the interaction between lonely people and their environment.

People experiencing loneliness often:

• They have a negative attitude toward others: Due to the lack of positive relationship experiences, lonely people can become suspicious, distrustful and even hostile to those around them. They may expect rejection or criticism, making it difficult for them to establish and maintain relationships.
• They avoid contact: For fear of being hurt or rejected, lonely people may avoid social contact, isolating themselves from others. They may decline invitations, avoid conversations and even stop responding to phone calls and messages.
• They withdraw from social life: Gradually, lonely people may completely withdraw from social life, giving up participation in various activities, social gatherings or hobbies.

Such behaviors affect the environment of a lonely person, causing other people:

• They feel rejected: A lonely person's lack of interest and cool demeanor can be perceived as rejection, which discourages further attempts to make contact.
• They lose motivation to build relationships: If our attempts to establish a relationship with a single person are rejected or ignored, we may lose the motivation to keep trying.
• They are beginning to isolate themselves: In fear of another rejection, we may begin to avoid contact with a lonely person, which in the long run may lead to our own loneliness.

In this way, loneliness can spread like a "plague," causing more and more people to isolate themselves from others and experience the negative effects of loneliness. That's why it's so important to notice the signals of loneliness in yourself and others and respond to them in an effort to build and maintain positive relationships with people.

How to deal with loneliness?

First of all, it is important not to underestimate the problem and to seek help. Talking to a loved one, psychologist or therapist can be the first step to overcoming loneliness. It is also worthwhile to actively engage in social life, seek new acquaintances, develop your interests and passions. There are many organizations and initiatives that help lonely people, offering support, networking opportunities and participation in various activities.

Loneliness is a complex problem that affects people of all ages and can have serious consequences for physical and mental health. Although we live in a world of apparent ease of connection, loneliness is becoming increasingly common, negatively affecting our well-being and quality of life. Therefore, it is important to understand the causes and effects of loneliness, and to actively prevent it by building and nurturing close relationships with other people. Let's remember that we are not alone in this struggle, and we can always seek support from relatives, friends or specialists.