You’re not alone if you’re feeling lonely.
Nearly half of Americans are lonely, according to a survey of 20,000 people across America by Cigna, which used the well-regarded UCLA Loneliness Scale to measure responses. Indeed 46% said they sometimes or always feel alone and 47% say they sometimes or always feel left out.
And that finding is mirrored by other studies, which reveal that anywhere from 20% to 43% of Americans feel lonely or socially isolated, NPR reports. And a study published last year in the journal International Psychogeriatrics found that as many as three in four people might be lonely.
Of course, levels of loneliness can fluctuate throughout your life, and there are certain factors that can help predict loneliness. Here are four:
Age. The oldest Americans are among the loneliest. Levels of loneliness begin to increase after about age 75, a study released Tuesday in the journal Psychology and Aging found. And a study released last year in the journal International Psychogeriatrics found that loneliness spiked for people in their 80s (though it also saw a spike when people were in their 20s and mid-50s).
Health. One reason older adults may feel lonely is due to poorer health, the Psychology and Aging study revealed. “Chronic conditions, functional limitations, cognitive decline, and sensory loss are examples of the types of health concerns that can affect people’s ability to remain socially active and to have good quality social interactions,” the study found. “In turn, social deficits increase risk for loneliness.”
Education. That B.A. degree may do more than up your earnings. “Education is believed to protect against loneliness because more education imparts individuals with greater resourcefulness in developing and accessing social supports that alleviate stress and thereby indirectly reduce risk for loneliness,” write the authors of the Psychology and Aging study entitled “Are U.S. Older Adults Getting Lonelier? Age, Period, and Cohort Differences.”
Relationship status. Do you have enough people — and the right kind of people — in your life? Married people (both those in their first and subsequent marriages) and those with larger social networks and closer relationships with family and friends tend to be less lonely. “The number and quality of people’s social relationships and activities play a prominent role in determining feelings of loneliness,” the study’s authors write.
One big issue with loneliness is that not only can it make us feel sad, it’s bad for our health. “Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death,” the National Institute on Aging reveals. Indeed, Steve Cole, the director of the Social Genomics Core Laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles told the NIA that “loneliness acts as a fertilizer for other diseases.
If you’re feeling lonely, these tips from Psychology Today may help.
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No need to ever be lonely.
My 2 minutes/2 cents worth contribution:
once you hit this stage of cultural and social decay, you’re far more likely to be lonely.
There is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t think about the decline of our civilization, western nations, our culture, communities and way of life. For me it creates a lot of worry and anxiety…and at times I feel almost trapped, unable to escape from an out-of-control train heading for a cliff. There is no question in my mind that the high levels of depression and anxiety measured in almost half the population is partly, perhaps mostly, a consequence of a lot of worry and despair with the world around us.
This should be where you realize you can either be a part of the herd or live for yourself. You probably already know that, but sometimes we need to hear it or read from others to affirm it so we do not feel crazy (as the herd would call us). I took my anxiety and rage from the service and focused it on learning new proficiencies and skills to help me out of the funk. Honestly though, I think the anxiety and rage were just my mind finally breaking through all those filters that society tries to indoctrinate us to.
The worst part of all this shit nowadays is that I will be prepared for the chaos and that chaos will happen right after I croak . After seeing all the bullshit in the last decade I really feel like I am on crazy pills, but thankfully I found this site and got the affirmation that some of my Falling Down moments are justifiable and shared.
Except for reminding me that I despise NATO for Clinton’s use of it’s mantle to bomb the Serbs, which is small potatoes, I love your handle. I hope there is enough RP testosterone here to appreciate it. I like your comment to. I was never military, so I am sure we can’t agree too much. There’s always that divide between those who are emotionally and socially vested in professional patriotism and those who are not. I’m not looking for disagreement. I just always get it from all sides. Military people mostly bother me if we talk about important things. That’s the one thing that bugs me about Terrence Popp, as much as I like most of what he says. He said something about bombing Syria or whatever and I thought I was watching a normie video with typical herd-approved content. Government-approved testosterone angers me. Is there a better definition of emasculation?
“you can either be a part of the herd or live for yourself”
actually you should live for god. living for yourself just makes you a herd of one, which is not an improvement.
You project your humanity onto non-humans. Most Americans or Westerners want it this way. Leftists complain to win, not to be honest. If plenty of ‘Westerners’ have despair, it’s because they are not movie stars. It’s not our civilization. It never was. The sooner you feel that way, the sooner you will feel better. Well, maybe less worse. But you can have purpose (natural not supernatural) if you live in the reality of what is, not what was by romanticized accounts. You know half the shit we were taught in childhood is lies, right? Such a lost love to pine over is this mistress of what never was but lies. Sometimes I think you guys pine over the loss of manliness unencumbered by fighting. That is not manliness. I say that as a realist not a victor.
“You project your humanity onto non-humans.”
don’t be jewish. they’re humans whether they know it and want to be or not.
“Most Americans or Westerners want it this way.”
having been miseducated, certainly most don’t have any knowledge of any choice. we need, as much as we can, to give them that choice.
Your sophistry gymnastics gives your lies away. Civilization will never spring out of black people living free. Red people lived a thousand years the same way until white men came. Don’t be Esau. I’d rather be Jewish than Esauish.
The article sounds like it was written by AI.
Zero understanding of human beings.
Saw it was by Marketwatch. Skipped to the best part-the comments-without reading their bs. Funny how I never read their stuff anymore. Nothing more than filler, just like finely ground cardboard in cheap coffee that is always on sale.
I read the first paragraph and realized it was BS and quit reading. However, I agree with HSF.
I’m 58 and alone. Not lonely at present, but that might change.
Pussy is no longer a motivator, but it would be nice to find a lady to share my time with.
Wife became a raging drunk, ran off with a loser she met in rehab.
I raised my two girls on my own…they are both successful.
I will probably die alone…..
Micky – My suggestion to you is to find a good Bible believing church and plug yourself into the opportunities they offer. Even if you do not believe in God, you can still connect with some great people and most church’s offer lots of activities, mission trips and the opportunity to help others. There are also a lot of widows and divorcees with whom you might find common interests.
You lucky bastard!
Micky…TN offers you sound advice…you were a good father, and no doubt are a good man.
This happened to me:
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
His last sentance is true.
A good man is a hot commodity with a good woman…at any age.
Married guys just can’t stand to see somebody be happy. He said he’d probably die alone. There was no complaint in that statement.
EC,
Your missing it, you don’t have to read between the lines…just read one yearning line:
“but it would be nice to find a lady to share my time with”.
you betcha i saw that
Honk honk!
I feel like I should respond. There it is. Not sure why.
In case you get lonely… I know the lingo of the MTV generation!
Loneliness is the best way for a person to know their self. At least for anyone that has half a fucking iota of introspective ability. Dependence or co-dependence has been drilled into this society for decades and it is showing in how weak-willed we are as a whole now.
By design or accident loneliness is essential to truly understand one’s needs versus wants.
Probably why I am a fucking pain in the ass to be around. Never get involved with someone you are not willing to walk away from when needed.
A better example is if your partner weakens you then was it worth the investment? Find the person that strengthens you and vice versa. Unless it Batman completing The Joker.
If I wasn’t married, I’d be very interested in living alone off the grid with 2-3 dogs.
2-3?
Or maybe a bear and name myself Grizzly Adam’s
yup!!!
So old, fat, ugly, sick morons are lonely. Who woulda thunk. There’s always porn.
“There’s always porn”
25% of all internet traffic, I hear. but kind of like substituting heroin for food though, doesn’t address the actual problem but rather just medicates it.
Right, that’s what they do when they are old, fat, ugly, sick lonely morons. Didn’t say that’s what I do !!
The poison and false promises of progressive- ism have wreaked tremendous havoc on society. People who would have been considered average or normal 25-30 years ago,now live their lives in the chaos brought from it.Sadly it has become normal to them. The majority of the folks here at TBP do not live their lives in chaos,but have lived through some one else’s at one time or another. Learned from it,and do not want to return to it. I can relate to Mickey’s comment,as we have been through the same chaos,and do not choose to make the same mistake again. Pussy is no longer the motivator.So if that comes with the chaos……I will pass. I have my children,my grand children,and siblings. I do not live my life in chaos,and will not bring it back into my family’s life. So one just needs to know that just because there is no significant other in our lives.It does not have to spell loneliness. I know that there are many good women left out there.I just have not met her yet,and if I don’t. Well so be it.
You just couldn’t stay in reality. Had to church it up for the sake of ‘optimism’. You last point was a clear fallacy by contradition. Lot’s of good women and you can meet one. Lotsa unicorns. That’s why I can’t stand you normies. Even when you’re right, you cling to being wrong for the delusional escapism that gets me killed. Thanks so much. RP cardinal rule: AWALT. Duh!
You, sir, obviously need some pussy.
You say the obvious mundane as if it’s fresh or something. Am I to be ashamed about your evaluation? Obviously, I need power. You jokers will never get how things are or work.
Huh?
You must assimilate. NPCs have more fun.
Assimilation once meant something a bit different, I think.
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time.”