By: Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit
According to the British Red Cross, more than nine million people say they are always or often lonely, out of a population of 65.6 million. Loneliness is a major problem in the modern world as traditional roles and relationships of both men and women have changed tremendously in the last few decades. Loneliness is a universal human experience that can affect us as badly as any physical ailment. The evidence shows that being lonely is bad for your physical and mental health. Loneliness is harmful to have because of the negative health effects, how hard it is to overcome, and how loneliness has no boundaries. Loneliness is a warning sign that our needs are not being met. Hunger is a sign that we need food; thirst is a sign that we need water, and pain signals that our body is sick and needs healing and repair. There is robust evidence that social isolation and loneliness significantly increase the risk for premature mortality, and the magnitude of the risk exceeds that of many leading health indicators.
Today, an emotional and psychological problem tormenting the elders is loneliness. Environmental factors like the type of family, social network, transportation issues and place of residence, population migrations, etc. are also some other significant correlates of loneliness. Loneliness can be overcome through certain initiatives. Volunteering time and talent can help put one’s situation in perspective, bringing to light the positives. We need good relationships in our life. Close family members or close friends can make a difference in your life and can convince you that you’re being seen. Loneliness can hurt your health. Not having anyone to talk to or vent to can cause anxiety. Loneliness can also be forced. For young people, loneliness is mostly forced. This is due to bullying. Loneliness has been seen in any person and can be shaped in many different ways. It can be seen “no matter their age, geographical location, or background” (Colorado 2019). Loneliness has been seen at almost any age, from adolescents to old age.
Loneliness can be one of the most destructive feelings humans are capable of feeling. Loneliness can lead to depression, suicide, and even raging out and hurting friends. One can fight loneliness, learn to love isolation, make use of the discomfort of time on their own and come to realize that sometimes the best tunes come in solos. Other studies have shown that changing our thinking altogether might be a more foundational way of dealing with loneliness. Loneliness can creep through your bones like a disease, wash over you unexpectedly as if a stranger’s vomit, or sit in the pit of your stomach for weeks like undigested chewing gum. Especially, it turns out, if you’re young. The elderly should make efforts to make friends and meet new people, the kind one can turn to for emotional support. They could check with local senior centers and hospitals for opportunities to volunteer. For example, with a person who feels particularly unloved and unwanted, someone close to them should try to take a little extra time to spend with that person and try to set aside a little extra time to talk to the person. Hobbies can keep them motivated and forward-thinking; they can help them set goals. They could adopt a pet for company; caring for a pet can renew the meaning and purpose of one’s life. They should recall aspects of their past life, which will enhance their emotional health. This will make an individual less likely to be lonely or withdrawn. (The author is a freelance journalist, writer & a cartoonist. He can be reached at dixitpatrakar@yahoo.in)
