Something you might be experiencing every single day, without even thinking about it, might be increasing your risk of premature death by 60%. It’s what the Surgeon General of the United States calls an epidemic – it’s loneliness. And while people commonly think of loneliness as a transient emotion, it’s an emotion that can have devasting effects on your physical and mental health. Even before COVID-19, loneliness had a drastic impact on people, but it has worsened since then. Now, loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in communities are at a crisis point.
This article delves into the multifaceted dangers of loneliness. It provides strategies to cure this modern epidemic, including an exploration of the role antidepressants can play in breaking the cycle of loneliness-induced depression. Whether you’re struggling with loneliness or know someone who is, understanding its impact and learning how to combat it is crucial for enhancing individual and collective well-being.
Understanding Loneliness – More Than Just Being Alone
Loneliness is not just about being alone. People can be alone much of the time and not feel lonely. Loneliness is a specifically distressing experience when someone doesn’t have the meaningful connections they want. One of the keys there is “meaningful.” A person can have many friends and still be lonely if those friends aren’t providing the meaningful connections the person wants.
This is different from social isolation. Social isolation is objectively having few social relationships, social roles, group memberships, and infrequent social interaction. Socially isolated people tend to be lonely, but they aren’t always.
The Likelihood of Loneliness – Who Is Lonely?
The likelihood of loneliness can be impacted by the situations into which one is born and where one works, learns, worships, and plays. While there is no right environment, some conditions are more likely to foster social connections than others. For example, when a person lives in a community where parks, libraries, public transportation, and social programs exist, social connections may be more accessible.
Some people are more at risk of loneliness than others. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these people tend to have more excellent social isolation and loneliness:
• Those with a physical or mental challenge like a chronic illness, psychiatric condition, or long-term disability
• Those who are marginalized or experience discrimination
• Those with limited access to resources, such as those in rural areas, without transportation, or who do not speak the language
• Those who have experienced violence or abuse
• Those who are facing a divorce, unemployment, or the loss of a loved one
• Those with low family support
• Those with a lower income
• Younger adults
• Older adults
• Those living alone
• Immigrants
• Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) community
Race also appears to be a predictor of social isolation, with white men and women being less socially isolated than black men and women.
And, unfortunately, about one in two adults in the United States reports experiencing loneliness, according to the Surgeon General.
The Impact of Loneliness on Your Physical Health
Loneliness is an emotion, but it can drastically impact your physical well-being. It’s so drastic that it has been calculated that a lack of social connection increases the risk of premature death as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. And while most people would recognize smoking as a severe risk to their health, few people acknowledge loneliness in the same way. The fact is, though, that social isolation presents health risks similar to those given by obesity, lack of access to care, and physical inactivity.
Specifically, social isolation and loneliness are associated with higher risks for:
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• Obesity
• Weakened immune function
The Mental Health Consequences of Loneliness
Mental health is of great concern to many people, with around one in five adults now living with a mental illness, and loneliness across the lifespan can endanger your mental health. For example, loneliness and social isolation in childhood increase the risk of depression and anxiety both immediately and well into the future. A meta-analysis also found that loneliness had a moderately significant effect on depression, making it a very troubling risk factor.
Frighteningly, loneliness is also associated with a risk of suicide. A nine-year study found loneliness to be a predictor of suicide and self-harm, with a correlation between increased loneliness and lethality of suicide in men.
Social isolation and loneliness are also associated with accelerated cognitive decline and the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The numbers on these harms are staggering.
• Chronic loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of developing dementia by approximately 50% in older adults.
• Loneliness can cause cognitive abilities to decline 20% faster in older adults.
All these mental health impacts of loneliness may increase a person’s social isolation, making the problem that much worse.
Antidepressants and Their Role in Treating Loneliness-Induced Depression
If loneliness has caused depression, it’s critical to get it professionally treated. Treatment for depression tends to involve psychotherapy, medication, or both. A more minor type of depression may be effectively treated with psychotherapy, whereas a more severe depression may also require medication.
If a doctor decides it’s appropriate, a person with depression may be prescribed a medication called an antidepressant. There are many antidepressants available. Some of the antidepressants that may be helpful include:
• Vortioxetine (Trintellix)
• Dextromethorphan-bupropion (Auvelity)
• Vilazodone (Viibryd)
• Levomilnacipran Hydrochloride (Fetzima)
• Desvenlafaxine extended release (Pristiq)
It’s important to remember that no medication comes without risk. If you have any concerns, speak to your doctor so you can weigh the risks versus the benefits of taking a medication.
Why Does Loneliness Harm Your Mental and Physical Health?
It’s not understood exactly why loneliness harms health, but Newcastle University epidemiologist Nicole Valtorta, PhD, says that it’s likely a combination of behavioral, biological, and psychological factors. Valtorta notes that without encouragement from family or friends, people may slide into unhealthy habits, which increases the harm. Impeded sleep and increased stress—both impacts of loneliness—can also harm the body. People without enough social connections may also use more alcohol and drugs, which is also unhealthy.
In addition to loneliness’s detrimental effects on mental health, loneliness itself is also emotionally painful. Emotional pain can activate your body’s stress response. When this response goes on for a long time, it can lead to chronic inflammation and reduced immunity. These raise your risk for chronic illness and some infectious diseases.
Strategies to Cure Loneliness and Boost Well-being
The good news is that while loneliness and social isolation can harm your health, you can actively change those risk factors. While curing loneliness isn’t easy, it is doable.
The first thing to consider is increasing social interactions in your life. There are many ways of doing this, but the best ways are the ones you enjoy. Examples include joining a club or choir, taking a class to learn something new, or exercising with others. Think about the activities you want and how you can start enjoying that activity with others.
Another very positive way of beating loneliness is volunteering. Helping others is meaningful and productive and can give you a sense of purpose. People with these experiences tend to live longer. If you’re looking for opportunities to volunteer, check with local nonprofits, religious organizations, or websites like VolunteerMatch, Idealist, or Community Foundation Engagement Center.
Human interaction isn’t the only interaction that can ward off loneliness. Something else that can help is adopting a pet if you can care for one. Animals can be a source of comfort, get you out of the house if you need to walk a dog, and provide you with a new interest to talk about. Interacting with animals may even lower your levels of stress and blood pressure.
Another powerful way to address loneliness is to change your frame of mind. You can start this process by saying yes to new opportunities. Sometimes, when we’re isolated, we feel more comfortable saying no, but doing the opposite can help us immensely. Learning to get cozy with small talk can help, too. Striking up a conversation with someone new can seem daunting, but we all need connections – including the person you’re talking to. Start small by chatting with a neighbor, a local barista, or a cashier. Over time, you’ll feel more comfortable talking with strangers in various situations, and this can open up new opportunities for connections and activities.
Finally, focusing inward to address the thoughts that underlie loneliness has been shown to combat loneliness effectively. A therapist can help you use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to recognize and deal with negative thoughts about self-worth and how others perceive you. This can empower you to feel more confident when being around others.
Loneliness Doesn’t Have to Haunt You
Loneliness is more than just an emotional state – it’s a significant public health concern with far-reaching consequences for both physical and mental health. From increasing the risk of life-threatening conditions like heart disease and stroke to accelerating cognitive decline and deepening depression, loneliness can be as dangerous as smoking or obesity. Yet, unlike these well-known health risks, loneliness often goes unrecognized and untreated, leaving many vulnerable to its devastating effects.
However, loneliness is not an irreversible condition. You can combat loneliness and improve your overall well-being by understanding its impacts and taking proactive steps – such as building meaningful connections, engaging in community activities, and seeking professional help when needed. Whether through therapy or simply reaching out to others, there are pathways to overcoming loneliness and reclaiming a healthier, happier life.
The journey to cure loneliness begins with awareness and small, intentional actions. It’s never too late to make a change, and the benefits of doing so can be life-saving. Remember, you don’t have to face loneliness alone – help and support are available, and taking that first step can make all the difference.
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