How Being Lonely Affects Our Brains
What science tells us about loneliness and our minds
Loneliness isn’t always the same as being alone.
Being alone is a choice. One might be looking to have some personal time for oneself after mingling with others. Another individual might find that being alone and engaging in hobbies is a fulfilling way to spend time. Being alone is something that we can control and change.
On the other hand, feeling lonely isn’t something most people choose willingly. In fact, one can continue to feel lonely despite being surrounded by people. Just like any other emotion, loneliness has many different causes and affects everyone differently.
From losing contact with close friends and family to believing that others aren’t trying to understand and care for you, it is difficult for one to change the factors that cause loneliness. And this is quickly becoming a major issue.
The epidemic of loneliness
In 2019, after conducting a survey of over 10,000 individuals in the United States, Cigna found that 61% of the surveyed participants experienced loneliness. In addition 47% reported that their relationships with others were not meaningful.
