Page 46 - April 2015 Life In Naples Magazine

“ When we are lonely, we lose
impulse control and engage
in what scientists call “social
evasion.” We become less
concerned with interactions
”and more concerned with self-
preservation.

LONELINESS
by Allen Weiss, MD, MBA, FACP, FACR
President and CEO, NCH Healthcare System our basic fight or flight mechanisms, causing us to stay away
from people we are not sure we can trust. People who are lonely
I t may be more deadly than obesity. It is a major risk factor for are far more likely not to sleep well—which suggests the brain
dying prematurely. is on constant alert status as there maybe threats throughout the
This malady is called loneliness. It has been described as night. People who sleep well have a secure feeling that others
social pain, a psychological mechanism meant to alert an around them will be protective. Loneliness implies a lack of
individual of isolation and motivate him or her to seek social belonging to a team, family, tribe or other protective group,
connections. Loneliness is a complex and usually unpleasant according to Jessica Olien, a writer for the Medical Examiner.
emotional response to isolation or lack of companionship.
The frequency of loneliness has doubled in four decades,
As our community aspires to have more folks live longer, according to surveys conducted first in the 1980s and repeated
happier, and healthier lives, we need to learn more about social recently. In terms of human interactions the number of people
isolation—its causes, consequences, and treatments. we know is not as important as having a few trusted people who
we can depend on through thick or thin. Two decades ago the
Loneliness can be experienced even when you are surrounded average number of trustworthy friends was three. Now we are
by others, in marriage, at work, or in any situation when you down to one and one-half.
feel disconnected from those around you. Being self-aware is
key to identifying this state of mind and not confusing it with Interestingly, in the age of the internet we may be making
depression, anxiety, or other similar feelings, which can be our loneliness worse. A recent Facebook study found that the
comingled with loneliness. amount of time you spend on the social network is inversely
related to how happy you feel throughout the day. Other studies
When we are lonely, we lose impulse control and engage in have shown that people who meet on the internet have a lower
what scientists call “social evasion.” We become less concerned
with interactions and more concerned with self-preservation.

Evolutionary psychologists speculate that loneliness triggers

46 Life in Naples | April 2015