By now, you’ve seen headlines about this country’s epidemic of loneliness — a feeling often exacerbated during the holidays, when desires for a picture-perfect celebration are thwarted by life’s realities both small and large. Longing for a missing loved one. The flight was delayed. The burden of unfulfilled goals as another year comes to a close. Or even those inaccessible celluloid images of the season.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has raised alarm bells about what he calls “ours.” “Loneliness epidemic” Nearly half of Americans report some level of loneliness.
It demonstrated the extent of the pandemic, but also its consequences, including risks to our physical health and longevity, which surprised many. Research reveals that the impact of loneliness can be as follows: As harmful as smoking 12 cigarettes a day.
But this season, there’s a new factor driving our feelings of loneliness and isolation: political partisanship. We have become a deeply divided nation, divided in an increasingly charged political environment. This leaves a huge number of people, many of whom viewed the 2024 election as a referendum on our personal and national values, in a state of complete depression. Some describe it as sadness
The current political environment exacerbates feelings of loneliness and can lead to anger. In order to overcome this problem, some people restrict their media consumption, seeking to reduce stimuli to avoid slipping into deeper pessimism. An acquaintance even asked his wife to remove the front pages of their local newspaper, so he could focus on the less annoying (for him) sections – such as culture, arts and sports.
If you find yourself hiding under the covers, deliberately turning your head away from a glimpse of the headlines or TV news, you’re not alone. The day after the election, mental health bookings on one virtual platform jumped 22 percent between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m.
Spring healtha mental health provider, reported a 240 percent increase in appointment bookings from November 3 to November 4. According to the Washington Post, Trevor Projecta crisis hotline for LGBTQ youth, saw a 125 percent increase in calls, texts and chat messages on Election Day and November 6.
In addition to therapy, people find their own ways to deal with their grief — yes, grief — with symptoms of hopelessness and hopelessness. One common coping mechanism is limiting social interactions: both online and in person.
For some, this may mean reducing interaction with family members or friends who have different political views. Or even Judiciary Exposure to friends, family or colleagues who do not comply with legislation. The problem is that these so-called coping strategies often exacerbate rather than alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness.
This may be particularly dangerous for men, who are more likely to be lonely than women, although they tend not to report it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2022, the suicide rate among men was about four times higher than among women. While males make up nearly half of the population, they account for nearly 80 percent of suicides.
A Study from King’s College London She found that men who knew they were lonely drank significantly more alcohol than their counterparts who did not know they were lonely. Already the only women drank less From their counterparts. Men also tend to have fewer close friendships, and often lack an essential support network that helps protect against loneliness. Financial stress adds another layer to this crisis: people who have fewer financial resources, and have less money to raise, are also more likely to suffer from loneliness and isolation, putting another vulnerable population at greater risk.
There are no easy answers to addressing loneliness, but a self-imposed social moratorium won’t help — and will likely make things worse. Loneliness is a terrible feeling, and it is the feeling that makes people feel sick. To combat this, people need a place in society where they have meaning and purpose, where they can work to create a public good, and ultimately feel valued. Successful human societies are societies in which we can work together, feel a sense of common purpose, so that we can recognize the problems that challenge us and then solve them – together.
You can get off the couch. Meet with friends. Take a walk. Take a class. Go to the cinema. Walk your dog – or borrow one. There are few better ways to inspire positive social encounters than with a friendly puppy. Help a friend. Do whatever it takes to move your mind and body. But most of all, use this time to be kind to yourself and don’t hesitate to seek professional help.
Remember, people who feel lonely are not attracted to meeting other lonely people. Instead, create ways to come together with people in your community to get to know each other better, appreciate each other, and through shared activities – foster a sense of belonging.
Communities and governments are taking notice of this crisis, and some are offering creative solutions. the Chatti Café plan She has set up ‘chat tables’ in thousands of cafes across the UK to encourage conversation and bridge the gap between strangers.
During the 2024 election season, Toledo, Ohio, has taken off “Neighbor to neighbour” After concerned citizens noticed that heated political rhetoric was disrupting their community and tearing apart friends.
As an antidote, the group distributed 2,300 “Love Thy Neighbor” signs that appeared alongside Harris and Trump yard signs.
And in Utah, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox used public records to find strangers who shared a random trait like being married for 50 years to invite to the governor’s mansion for a dinner party where politics… It wasn’t In the list.
Fortunately, there are Republicans and Democrats in Washington who want to have a connected conversation together — about the politics of loneliness and social isolation.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) took to the Senate floor and shocked some members when he declared: “I’m here to talk about unity.” He described it as “one of the most important political issues of our time.” His words sparked a wake-up call, and he has since demonstrated one way to bridge the political divide: Partnering with Governor Spencer Cox to seek bipartisan solutions This growing epidemic.
