Image via Wikipedia
Enforced loneliness has been a punishment throughout history.
We are social animals and most of us need the company of
others for a lot of our time. I remember
my mother, the eldest of ten children, feeling horrified at the prospect of one
night alone when my father needed to visit a relative and they couldn’t spare
the time to go together.
Robert S. Weiss has categorized loneliness into two ways: emotional loneliness and social loneliness.
Emotional loneliness feels like the pain we feel when a
romantic partner is missing.
Social loneliness is when you feel like you are not part of
a community and you feel you do not have friends to rely on.
The other important distinction is between transient or chronic loneliness, also known
rather cruelly as state and trait loneliness.
Transient loneliness passes and is often caused by
something external to us – it is easily remedied usually.
Chronic loneliness comes from inside us and is hard to
resolve.
A person who feels lonely even in a crowd, at a family gathering, with friends, or alone is experiencing chronic loneliness. It does not matter what goes on around them, the experience of loneliness is always there.
A person who feels lonely even in a crowd, at a family gathering, with friends, or alone is experiencing chronic loneliness. It does not matter what goes on around them, the experience of loneliness is always there.
Chronic loneliness can be a serious,
life-threatening condition. At least
one study has associated it with a possible increased risk of cancer.
Loneliness has been linked with
depression, and can thus be a risk factor for suicide.
Loneliness can also play a part in alcoholism and substance abuse.
Loneliness can also play a part in alcoholism and substance abuse.
In children, a
lack of social connections is directly linked to several forms of antisocial and self-destructive behaviour.
There are a number of different ways to
treat loneliness. But the first step that most doctors recommend is to see a counsellor.
With the counsellor, you can then work
to understand the cause of the problem and start to reverse the negative
thoughts, feelings, and attitudes that are making you unhappy.
That first vital step is to talk to a doctor or a therapist about how you feel.
Please don’t feel embarrassed you’d be
surprised how many of us have felt just like you in the past. That first vital step is to talk to a doctor or a therapist about how you feel.
I am Wendy Mason. I work as a Personal Development Coach, Consultant and Writer.I have worked with many different kinds of people going through all kinds personal and career change, particularly those
- looking for promotion or newly promoted,
- moving between Public and Private Sectors
- moving into retirement.
Comments
Post a Comment
I am very grateful for your comment. Thank you!