Understanding Loneliness

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Loneliness has gotten an increasing amount of research attention as of late, with the role of social connection being studied more and more in terms of its impact on both physical and mental health. Loneliness has been declared an epidemic in certain countries, and the public health focus on it — including attention given by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy — has been growing over recent years.

Loneliness raises your risk not only of certain mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, but it is also associated with poorer physical health — from a higher risk of cardiovascular disease to increased inflammation and decreased immune function. Being lonely needs to be defined carefully, however. Whenever I give talks on the health benefits of social support, there is someone who at first assumes that I am prizing the idea of having a lot of friends over having only a few, or suggesting constant socializing rather than savoring time alone.........

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