Loneliness may have serious mental and physical complications that worsen if ignored
- Great social relationships directly impact our wellbeing. These have the potential to allow you to live 8 years more in the lifespan.
By Nazarul Islam
People like me who have crossed the threshold of proverbial three scores and ten years, try hard to grasp on to loneliness that quietly slips into our lives. Perhaps an upside to this could be my newly acquired potential for a deepening solitude that is fast catalyzing into a recipe, adding to the layers of ‘wisdom’ and growth. And the downside of course, is the pain of isolation that has taken shape due to my sudden loss of connections.
However, those in my age bracket need to understand the importance of embracing solitude as a consequence of ageing process that has crept in over the years. In the aftermath, some of us may also be coming to terms of the old age, with a sensation of sadness. This is associated with a feeling of disconnection from people we have liked and loved over a lifetime.
No wonder then, at this juncture in life, I am now hastily trying to make friends with my solitude.
In my years of adulthood, loneliness had followed a U-shaped pattern—higher in younger and older adulthood, and the lowest after the midlife years.
An intriguing question now arises: Why would people my age feel so lonely? I say this because I still feel lonely, even though I do not spend so much time alone.
I have tried and searched for two things from my ongoing social connections—being listened to, and my pursuit of making some kind of contribution to the people I meet.
I have developed an overwhelming urge that others also take an interest in experiences that I want to share. I have learned quite a bit from stories of mistakes seniors like me have made. Obviously they want to share these with me, expecting that I may appreciate what they’ve been through in old age. Most people I met tried to engage me in a conversation that would go a long way towards reducing the epidemic of loneliness in the years that lay ahead.
There is a reason for saying this.
Quite often, the labor and contributions of older people are unaccounted for in typical economic indices. Ageism and increase in longevity have a certain contribution to this as well. Feeling lonely is not unique to seniors. It’s an emotional state that anyone at any age can find themselves in, given the right circumstances. The COVID pandemic left so many of us feeling isolated. As a consequence, Britain and Japan each created a Ministry of Loneliness to address this problem.
If we look at the distribution of loneliness across the individual lifespan, there are two peaks—one is in younger adulthood, and the the other is in old age. This has been pointed out in a research study. By better understanding the factors that drive loneliness, we might be better able to address them.
Beyond having a psychological impact, persistent loneliness has been linked to a greater risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and stroke. Some researchers suggest it carries a medical risk comparable to, or greater than, smoking and obesity. What has been truly striking is how consistent the uptick remains persistent than our in loneliness in older adulthood.
A study, published last year in the journal Psychological Science, also identified several risk factors for heightened loneliness across the whole lifespan. A wealth of evidence exists to establish that loneliness is related to poorer health, therefore the research scholars have desired to better understand who is lonely and why people are becoming lonelier as they age out of midlife. This may be helpful in finding ways to mitigate loneliness.
It has been argued that absence of connection in old age can increase the risk for premature deaths, to levels comparable to smoking every day. The office of the U.S. Surgeon General, one year ago had called for action to address America’s loneliness epidemic.
Research study in the US also found out that individuals with higher persistent loneliness has existed disproportionately among women, who are more isolated, less educated, or had lower income, had more functional limitations, were divorced or widowed, were smokers or had poorer cognitive, physical or mental health.
An obvious question therefore arises out of my concern: Why are middle-aged adults the least lonely, Perhaps this could be attributed to the persistent demands on a middle-aged person’s life, often involving social interactions, such as being married, going to work and making friends with the parents of children’s friends. Still, the relationship between social interaction and loneliness is complex. A person in the middle age can have a lot of social interaction and still be lonely or, alternatively, be relatively isolated and not feel lonely.
Research scholars have also pointed out that people as they age and develop through young adulthood into midlife, they start to set down their roots and become established, solidifying adult friend groups, social networks and life partners. There is also a scientific evidence that married people tend to be less lonely, as compared to older adults who are not married.
People can become socially isolated for a variety of reasons, such as getting older or weaker, no longer being the hub of their family, leaving the workplace, the deaths of spouses and friends, or through disability or illness.
To cope with loneliness in old age, older adults can engage in social activities, utilize technology for connection, seek out community involvement, consider pet companionship, and practice self-care. Building a strong support system through regular contact with family, friends, and neighbors, as well as participating in activities that foster a sense of purpose and connection, can significantly reduce feelings of isolation.
Generally, the people I come across are casual acquaintances with whom I can spend time with, but I really don’t have a deep connection with them. I have experienced feelings of isolation even when I am surrounded by other people or in large groups. It sometimes feels like you’re constantly on the outside looking inwards.
So, will my loneliness shorten my lifespan? Lonely people are more likely to get heart disease, strokes, anxiety, depression, dementia … Add it all up, and they’re 26% more likely to die early.
According to a study conducted by Cigna, nearly half of all Americans report feeling lonely sometimes or always. The same study found that Generation Z (ages 18-22) is the loneliest generation, with 79% reporting feelings of loneliness. While the latest estimates suggest that loneliness is most common among adolescents and younger people, people of all ages experience or go through spasms of loneliness. People who have poor mental health, a long-term health condition, or a disability are at an increased risk of this phenomenon.
Yes, it is often described as a silent killer because its negative effects on physical and mental health are significant and can be insidious, developing over time without being immediately obvious. It can be as harmful as smoking or obesity and is linked to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, depression, and even death.
Isolation can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system. It can also lead to a decline in overall physical health, as lonely individuals may be less likely to engage in healthy behaviors like exercise and proper nutrition.
Again loneliness is strongly linked to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. It can also contribute to substance abuse as individuals may turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to cope with feelings of Studies have shown that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of premature death from various causes.
The effects of loneliness often develop gradually, making it difficult to recognize the problem and seek help. Many people feel uncomfortable admitting they are lonely or seeking support, further exacerbating the problem. In essence, loneliness can silently erode a person’s well-being, leading to a range of negative health outcomes and potentially shortening their lifespan.
Recognizing the impact of loneliness and promoting social connection are crucial for addressing this public health concern. Without social connection, people often become depressed, which further feeds feelings of isolation. It can then lead someone to becoming unwell and sadly dying. How is this possible? The first and obvious answer is a deterioration with faculties of the mind.
Great social relationships directly impact our wellbeing. These have the potential to allow you to live 8 years more in the lifespan. Loneliness may have serious mental and physical complications that worsen if ignored.
This unleashes excess stress hormones, causing an elevated heart rate, and increased blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Read: A Tale of Two Cities
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The Bengal-born writer Nazarul Islam is a senior educationist based in USA. He writes for Sindh Courier and the newspapers of Bangladesh, India and America. He is author of a recently published book ‘Chasing Hope’ – a compilation of his articles.
