You can know the feeling. Your days are characterized by a faint blur of sameness. You want to connect with people, but even when you get the chance, you don’t feel that happy to go out and meet them. You don’t want to bother your friends with your issues – you don’t even think there is anyone you can turn to. (Also read | Overcoming Loneliness in Friendship: Here Are 5 Things You Can Do,
Everyone else seems normal. You are convinced that you are different. You feel alone, and you feel it written all over your face.
But we all have moments or periods of loneliness and even health experts know this.
Health bodies in the UK, US and Japan have been warning about the risk of a loneliness crisis since before the COVID-19 pandemic – at a time when many people said they felt an increased sense of loneliness and other mental health issues.
But why? And how widespread is loneliness? Some researchers say that loneliness may be linked to the pressures we feel in our everyday lives.
Loneliness and pressure of success in the city
India-based psychologist Kamna Chhibber said loneliness is a by-product of globalization, industrialization and the rapid spread of technology.
Data on loneliness in India is scarce, but some surveys have indicated that 40% of adults in the country say they feel lonely.
Chhibber said the country is undergoing mass migration, especially of young people, from small towns and cities to larger urban centres. This migration has weakened the sense of support people traditionally received from their families.
“The elders, or even your neighbors, the elders in the community, provide you with some guidance, help solve problems, make decisions… It’s completely gone,” the psychologist told DW. “
Chhibber explained that like other big cities around the world, life in urban India was filled with competition, long work hours and anonymity – such as not knowing your neighbors – and these are all factors that can contribute to loneliness.
Social media doesn’t help either, Chhibber said — for many people, endless scrolling through posts prevents them from getting out into the world and making real personal connections with people in person.
But research published in 2021 indicated that people were feeling lonely even in cramped rural villages. Despite being surrounded by people, you may still feel lonely when you are misunderstood by other people in the family or community.
Lack of historical data on loneliness in poor areas
Experts say it is difficult to understand the global prevalence of loneliness because they lack data, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
“There are clear differences in the data [we have from] high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries,” said Professor André Hajek of the Center for Health Economics at the University of Hamburg. “We lack valid, population-based studies on loneliness in low- and middle-income countries “
Although anecdotal evidence exists, some experts say they need more empirical data to understand how loneliness affects broader populations, for example in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Comprehensive empirical data on loneliness in sub-Saharan Africa is lacking,” Razak Gyasi, a member of WHO’s Social Connectivity Commission, wrote in an email to DW.
Gyasi said, “However, anecdotal evidence suggests that loneliness is a widespread psychosocial phenomenon in sub-Saharan Africa, even more so than in the Western world, and particularly among older people and women.” “Approximately 30-40% of adults in sub-Saharan Africa [reported] “Transient and Long-Term Loneliness.”
The main reasons for this were the perceived lack of close relationships, bereavement and the moving away of young people. Gyasi said the commission would address the problem by developing practical interventions for psychosocial conditions, including feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Deal with loneliness by prioritizing relationships
We may not have the best data on loneliness, but we know what it feels like, and over time, we can learn to recognize the symptoms. And we can learn how to deal with it.
Chhibber said that the youth should look within themselves and try to handle their loneliness. Chhibber said that in the pursuit of success and achievement, many young people forget to stop and think about what is important to them.
You should ask yourself: “Do I need to pause and stop for a bit and just try to understand for myself [what I want]Chhibber said.
When we neglect what’s important to us, we often forget to pay attention to personal relationships with family and friends, or potential friends.
,[Young people] “Constantly moving from one thing to another at the expense of our relationships,” Chhibber said. It almost feels like everyone is in some kind of race – towards whom, we have no idea.
Hajek, whose research typically focuses on older people, said it’s also important for older adults to try to maintain skills, such as doing their own finances, for as long as possible to counteract loneliness. Using the phone.
But some things are beyond our control. For example, the death of a spouse can have a “tremendous” impact and contribute to loneliness, Hajek said. That’s when “safety nets”, such as family and friends and pets, or “caring for grandchildren” will help you feel connected through shared experiences.
