Our need to connect is important, and yet many of us still feel alone. Loneliness is the state of distress or discomfort that results when one perceives a gap between one’s desires for social connection and actual experiences of it. Even people who are surrounded by others all day still experience a deep loneliness.
There is research suggesting that loneliness poses serious threats to our well-being and long-term physical health, and a number of unfavorable outcomes have been linked to loneliness. In addition to its association with depressive symptoms and other forms of mental illness, loneliness is a risk factor for heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and arthritis, among other diseases.
Lonely people are also twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests. The state of chronic loneliness may trigger adverse physiological responses such as the increased production of stress hormones, hinder sleep, and result in weakened immunity.
Join Tracy Brady and I as we discuss ways to help shift your mindset to a more connected state of being. We also talk about the importance of working with a counselor to help guide you through the process. Tracy is a psychotherapist who specializes in helping others to understand and accept themselves and their circumstances.
Connect with Tracy Brady
Connect, watch and listen to Curiosity Junkie through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, IHeartRadio and YouTube. You can also connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn. Be sure to check out our about page or the first episode on Self-Love.