Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. Loneliness is also described as social pain—a psychological mechanism which motivates individuals to seek social connections. It is often associated with an unwanted lack of connection and intimacy. Loneliness overlaps and yet is distinct from solitude. Solitude is simply the state of being apart from others, not everyone who experiences solitude feels lonely. As a subjective emotion, loneliness can be felt even when surrounded by other people; one who feels lonely, is lonely. The causes of loneliness are varied. They include social, mental, emotional, and environmental factors.
Research has shown that loneliness is found throughout society, including among people in marriages along with other strong relationships, and those with successful careers. Most people experience loneliness at some points in their lives, and some feel it very often. As a short term emotion, loneliness can be beneficial; it encourages the strengthening of relationships. Chronic loneliness on the other hand is widely considered harmful, with numerous reviews and meta-studies concluding it is a significant risk factor for poor mental and physical health outcomes. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Loneliness Impact On The World
According to a study by researchers at the AARP Public Policy Institute and at Stanford and Harvard universities shows that the impact of people living in social isolation add $7 billion a year to the cost of Medicare, mostly because of longer hospital stays. Now because of the coronavirus I shutter to imaging the rising cost from this pandemic in regards to the social distancing and the quarantine which has left millions who already was suffering from some form of isolation issues and million more who now are dealing with their own isolation due to limited engagement with others, limited traveling and limited access to the help they need. The most important thing about this whole situation is this: most of these people are not aware how detrimental these feelings are to their overall health. The worlds medical society will be hit hard with an increase number of new cases of this silent disease call loneliness. Many of these alarming statistics about loneliness will come from clues provided from this present physical isolation, marital status, close friends and family members, and the amount of television was being watched during this time and not just their feelings. Have you examined yourself to see if you are in this number?