2023-11-21 16:51:31
Thanks to Anne Cornilleau, head of studies at the Philanthropy Observatory of the Fondation de France.
Not all lonely people suffer from loneliness. Where the feeling of loneliness poses a problem is when the situation generates suffering. When we suffer from loneliness, the relationships we have with our family, our friends, our neighbors, our work colleagues or even an associative network (a sports group, a religious group, etc.) are no longer enough for us. to fill in.
We can think thatbe surrounded prevents loneliness but that’s not entirely true! We can suffer from it even if we are in the presence of loved ones. “17% of people who have at least two sociability networks (friends, neighbors, work colleagues, family or the community network) feel alone every day or very often”notes Anne Cornilleau.
- What is the difference between loneliness and social isolation? We speak of social isolation when a person lacks social interactions. Loneliness is more of a feeling, specific to each individual.
- What is the difference between loneliness and being lonely? A lonely person does not always suffer from loneliness. We can be lonely without it generating any suffering.
Beyond the suffering and discomfort felt, other symptoms of loneliness can be:
- the feeling thatwe don’t really feel understood,
- the feeling thatwe don’t really feel in our place,
- the impression ofto be useless in the current society.
Who are most affected by the feeling of loneliness?
Loneliness sets in in stages, at different times in life. It occurs during adolescence as well as at retirement or at any other time of life.
In France, 11 million people feel alone1 (i.e. 20% of the population over 15 years old) and 80% of them suffer from it. In total, there are 9 million French people who suffer from the feeling of loneliness… compared to 7 million French people in 2020 and 4 million in 2010. The people most concerned?
- people facing economic problems,
- the unemployed,
- singles,
- sick or disabled people,
- students.
Certain periods are particularly conducive to feeling lonely:
- Retirement : stopping work can create a loss of links with society and 1 in 3 elderly people are affected by the feeling of isolation,
- Adolescence, a period when we often have the impression of being misunderstood or of being different from others of the same age (13% of young people suffer from loneliness).
Other challenges and contexts can also promote loneliness, this is particularly the case of:
- A health situation: covid-19 has greatly increased the feeling of loneliness, particularly among young people.
- Geographic isolation: living in rural areas or on the outskirts of a city can be difficult for some because generally, these are places poorly connected to neighboring areas.
- A move: we live in a new city where we know no one and we move away from the landmarks we had before.
- Inequalities in access to the Internet or digital tools: Not having the Internet or digital tools can create social exclusion.
- Overconsumption of social networks: you can have a lot of friends or subscribers on social networks but they are not always there in bad times. The Internet does not completely replace offline social interactions.
Feeling of loneliness, what are the risks?
The feeling of loneliness has an impact on professional life, social relationships… but also mental health and, even more so, quality of life. “Prolonged loneliness not only alters behavior, but also shows up when measuring stress hormones, immunity and cardiovascular function. Over time, these physiological changes worsen in such a way that they cast millions of people into their graves.”notes the American neuroscientist John Cacioppo in his work “Loneliness, Human nature and the need for social connection”. Among the possible repercussions:
- Withdrawal into oneself,
- Lack of self-confidence,
- Depression,
- Social phobia,
- Anxiety and stress…
- Impact on physical health: Study finds social isolation may lead to increased risk of health problems such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes2.
“Loneliness is changing, we leave it but we can also stay there“, explains Anne Cornilleau. There are different ways to try to no longer feel alone:
- To feel useful : the key to feeling better is to feel useful in society. For this, we can:
- Do a favor for a neighbor, friend or colleague.
- Help an association you love. In addition to feeling useful, we meet new people and develop new skills.
- Donate blood.
- Be supported in daily life : to meet new people, you can sign up for activities that you like. For example, if we love sports, we join a sports team or join a club in order to talk with people who share the same passion.
- Knowing how to speak but also listen to others : Communication is very important. Talking with your friends helps you get better but you also have to be interested in them, give them advice… Exchanges must be reciprocal.
- Go to a psychologist : the professional helps determine the cause of this discomfort.
The goal of combating loneliness is to “give yourself a central place in an action or initiative”advises Anne Cornilleau.
1. According to the 2022 annual report on Les Solitudes published by the Fondation de France.
2. Social isolation and loneliness as risk factors for myocardial infarction, stroke and mortality, Christian Hakulinen, Laura Pulkki-Råback, Marianna Virtanen, Markus Jokela, Mika Kivimäki, Marko Elovainio. According to this study, social isolation increasese 29% the risk of suffering a heart attack and 32% the risk of suffering a cerebrovascular accident (CVA).
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