While civilization has improved our standard of living, it has also increased the number of people suffering from loneliness.
Several studies show that loneliness is detrimental to the health. Here are a few facts about loneliness you should know
1. It might shock you to know that more than 60% of lonely people are married. You can get lonely even when married when you stop sharing your deepest feelings, thoughts and experiences with your partner.
2. Having a lot of Facebook friends doesn’t protect you from loneliness. According to a study, there’s no correlation between people’s Facebook usage and their overall friendship satisfaction.
3. You can have lots of friends and relationships and still be lonely. The quality of your relationships and not quantity will protect you from loneliness.
4. Loneliness can shorten your lifespan. A study by researchers at Brigham Young University found that the subjective feeling of loneliness increases death risk by 26 percent.
5. Loneliness affects the immune system and puts you at an increased risk for developing all kinds of illness and diseases.
6. Loneliness doesn’t only affect your mental health but also affects your physical health. Chronic loneliness is as harmful to your health as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day according to a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
7. Chronic loneliness increases the risk of cardiovascular disease because the body is under constant and unrelenting stress.
So it’s important you have quality time with family and friends. Chronic loneliness isn’t good for the health.
S.O.Z