Today’s frantic pace of life can often have a detrimental effect on health and wellbeing, and extended periods of time spent at work away from friends and loved ones can often result in an overwhelming feeling of isolation and loneliness. Recent studies have revealed that one in ten people frequently experience loneliness – and 42% of people experience depressive-type symptoms as the result of feeling lonely.
Spending long periods apart from people you love, trust and feel comfortable with can lead to forms of stress and anxiety that can have a negative impact upon your body’s immunity and heart-health. The sensations associated with solitude and isolation can create a propensity for alcohol and substance-abuse in order to feel the void of loneliness. When some people drink more – there is also a tendency for people to eat less healthily, which can also result in health-problems.
Whilst feelings relating to isolation have numerous triggers, many academics feel that the pace and culture of modern life is a contributory factor. As the person has more demands imposed upon them, it is increasingly difficult for them to communicate with others regularly, intimately and meaningfully. The prevalence of digital communication has decreased the need for verbal communication and many people have eschewed telephone conversation for texts, emails or communications through social media. This combined with longer hours at work, creates conditions in which people can feel estranged from many situations – promoting feelings of isolation.
Whilst it can be difficult to remedy this, it’s important make meaningful connections with people around you in order to retain a sense of emotional wellbeing, and the symptoms of loneliness can be overcome with a few simple steps. Firstly, always try and have a conversation with a loved one at-least once a day, secondly think about how you can enhance the quality of time you spend with friends, for instance do something you both enjoy like going to the cinema or attending an event. Finally if you’re feeling socially starved and want to meet new people – try doing something which connects with your interests, such as going to an art-class, joining a book-club or even attending a pub-quiz.
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