Experiencing
loneliness isn’t
just a day-to-day
downside of life –
sometimes it can
be detrimental to
your health.
The U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy,
MD, MBA recently released an advisory
warning of the dangers of loneliness.
“It is associated with a greater risk of
cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke,
depression, anxiety, and premature
death,” the advisory states. The mortality
impact of being socially disconnected is
similar to that caused by smoking up to
15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than
that associated with obesity and physical
inactivity.
“Physicians, nurse practitioners, and
physician assistants now are doing more
and more screening for things like anxiety
and depression – diagnoses which often
have symptoms of loneliness or isolation,”
said board-certified family medicine physician Dr. Michelle Folsom-Elder
of CalvertHealth Primary Care. She
continued, “There can be many forms
of loneliness as well and you can find
people feeling this way even if they are
surrounded by people. I try to remind
people that even if you are alone you
don’t have to be lonely.”
According to the American Hospital
Association (AHA), loneliness can
increase one’s risk of premature death
by 26 percent, risk of heart disease
by 29 percent, and risk of stroke by
32 percent. Loneliness affects half of
American adults, so building connections
to other people is a vital health priority.
Loneliness can also cause emotional
pain/distress, which can activate the
same stress response signals in the body as
physical pain, according to the National Institute
on Aging.
Dr. Folsom-Elder recognizes there are several
barriers to combatting loneliness. Often, people
further isolate themselves when they become lonely.
Teens and the older populations are particularly at
risk because their capacity and means to physically
go out into the community are limited. Children and
teens often isolate due to transportation concerns
and lack of opportunity to join groups. Those with
mobility challenges can have a particularly difficult
time with isolation.
“My number one piece of advice would be to not
be afraid or concerned about asking for assistance.
Reaching out to any number of organizations in
the county, as well as your local doctor’s office may
offer you some help,” said Dr. Folsom-Elder.
13 WAYS TO BUILD COMMUNITY
- Sign up for a class or recreational sports through your local Parks
and Recreation department. Pickleball has become popular because
of its social factor.
- Participate in the many free classes and events offered at the public
libraries. It’s a great way to meet others with similar interests.
- Enjoy a delicious lunch and delightful conversation at your nearby
senior center.
- Volunteer for a cause you care about like the food pantry or an
animal shelter.
- Leverage social media: there are many groups on Facebook geared
toward in-person connection in the local area, including book clubs
and mom groups which host in-person meetups.
- Join a non-credit personal enrichment class at the College of Southern
Maryland: remember how comparatively easy it was to make friends
as a child when in classes surrounded by people your own age all day
every day? Simulate this experience as an adult and pick up a new
skill or hobby. Learn more at csmd.edu.
- Coach or assistant coach a youth recreational sports team. County
parks and recreation departments often need more volunteer
coaches for their youth recreational sports programs and typically
experience is not required/training is provided.
- Invite your neighbors over for a game and snack night. Keep it
simple to plan and purchase treats from a local bakery!
- Invite a coworker to go to lunch with you – even if you telework,
meeting in person from time to time builds connection and can create
positive connections for your workday and outside your workday.
- Join a local gym/group fitness studio and attend classes at a consistent
time each week to start seeing the same people each week.
- Invite a neighbor or post in your neighborhood social media group
inviting people to go for an evening walk as temperatures get warmer.
Even better is if you have a weekly walk group at the same day and
time each week.
- Schedule a time to video chat with friends and relatives from far
away instead of a phone call or text message. Waiting for it to
happen spontaneously reduces the chance of it happening.
- For young nieces, nephews, grandchildren, etc., who live far away,
offer to read a bedtime story the same day each month over video
chat to build connection.