Loneliness is distress caused by one’s lack of social connection. Loneliness causes people to feel empty, alone, and unwanted or left out—that nobody cares about them. This lack of social connection can increase anxiety, risk of stroke, heart disease, dementia, inflammation, susceptibility to infection, low self-esteem, cognitive decline, depression, and suicide. Several studies have shown that nearly fifty percent of Americans experience feelings of loneliness daily—it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, an introvert or extravert, young or old. Unlike depression or anxiety, loneliness is not a mental health disorder which can be treated with medication—there is no pill for loneliness. Rather, loneliness is a state of mind, and it can only be treated by cultivating warm personal relationships. What this tells us is that if we find ourselves feeling lonely, we need to get out and develop some warm personal relationships with those around us—even if we don’t feel like it. Once these warm relationships are in place, loneliness disappears.

One Sentence Wisdom

• “The good life is built with good relationships.” — Robert J. Waldinger
• “A good life depends on the strength of our relationships with family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and strangers.” — David Lammy

If you know of someone who you think would enjoy reading my Reminder, please forward it to them. Also, feel free to use this content in your own publications—newsletters, blogs, etc.