WHY LONELINESS IS OUR GREATEST HEALTH HAZARD

Some excellent tips to learn how to beat loneliness.

We all seek to be heard and understood.

Loneliness is defined as a feeling of being socially isolated, that our relationships are not meaningful, and others do not understand us. Loneliness is now considered a public health hazard. It’s been shown by research from Brigham Young University to be as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, cutting 15 years off your lifespan.

Not only that, it’s a problem that’s growing. Studies report that one in four Australians are affected with 50% reporting feeling lonely for at least one day a week and over 25% reporting feeling lonely for three to four days a week.

How to avoid loneliness: our greatest health hazard.

The seriousness of the situation has been called out by Michelle Lim, Scientific Chair of the Australian Coalition to End Loneliness and lead author of the 2018 Australian Loneliness Report, saying there is an urgent need to find effective ways to combat the epidemic.

1. The paradox of increasing disconnection in a super-connected world.

How is it, at a time when we can connect with virtually anyone anywhere around the planet in an instant, we’re feeling a greater disconnect?

There isn’t a single cause, but some of the contributing factors include:

• A growing number of people living alone either through choice or circumstance.

• More people are working remotely or from home, with less opportunity for social interaction.

• More people report having fewer close friends.

• More people are dealing with depression, which is commonly associated with a desire to withdraw from social contact.

• Fewer people ‘know’ their neighbours or are involved in community events.

• Work is often so busy that there’s no time to scratch yourself, let alone get to know your colleagues. Everyone is busy too, so getting help when you need it is nearly impossible. You then feel overstretched, overwhelmed or exhausted.

• Spending an increasing amount of time online or engaged with a screen, cuts down the opportunity for realtime conversation.

• Working or living in a toxic environment where trust is missing. However, by lying low and trying not to attract attention to yourself, creates an atmosphere of fear, anxiety and isolation.

2. Being alone is different.

Maybe you crave that time when you could get five minutes of peace and quiet just for you. Or, if you’re an introvert, you