Loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 5 ways to get rid of loneliness

Loneliness is a "hidden epidemic" in modern society. People usually believe that lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcoholism and exercise will affect health. In fact, the harm of loneliness to health cannot be ignored.

The loneliness behind the bustle

Someone once said that young people today seem to be very lively, but in fact everyone lives like an isolated island. Many people do not and do not want to leave their own islands and truly step into the territory of others. The in-depth communication between each other has gradually decreased, and has been replaced by a series of trendy Internet terms and funny emoticons.

Loneliness is a bad psychological state, which is caused by feeling isolated or rejected by the outside world, resulting in a depressed mood, or even depression. It is usually caused by the following reasons:

First, the current era has become more efficient, which has made friendship "fast food" and the number of acquaintances smaller, thus causing loneliness to slowly spread.

Second, social competition is becoming increasingly fierce. Adults need to support their families and work hard outside. They will inevitably neglect their children and the elderly at home, making them lonely.

Third, the growing development of electronic products, although it has shortened the distance in time and space, has made people's circles smaller, leading to the weakening of interpersonal relationships, gradual alienation and loneliness.

Fourth, a person's personality is also related to loneliness. Introverts often lack a sense of security and worry that what they say will not be recognized, so they choose to remain silent and dare not express themselves, which easily leads to loneliness.

According to Chengdu Business Daily, a US study involving 300,000 people showed that loneliness is as harmful as alcoholism or smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Loneliness not only increases the level of cortisol, a stress hormone in the human body, thereby weakening the immune system and making people more susceptible to illness; the blood pressure of lonely people is 30 mm Hg higher than that of normal people, and the incidence of heart disease and stroke is three times that of normal people; the lifestyle of lonely people increases the incidence of cancer by 2 to 3 times. In addition, according to China Youth Daily, loneliness may also affect an individual's sleep pattern and logical reasoning.

How to get rid of loneliness?

Xiao Zhenyu, director of the Assessment Department of the Mental Health Promotion Center of the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that if you want to get rid of loneliness, you can start with the following points:

1. Overcome inferiority complex. People with inferiority complex always feel inferior to others and are unwilling to interact with others. These people may try to communicate with others and tell everyone their thoughts.

2. Keep in touch with your friends. Don’t think of your friends only when you feel lonely. Make a conscious effort to keep in touch with your friends regularly.

3. Make new friends. Taking the initiative to meet new friends can add new elements to your life. When getting along with others, remember not to be self-centered and think more about others.

4. Develop hobbies. When you feel lonely, you can focus on your hobbies and communicate with people in your circle.

5. Exercise regularly. Appropriate exercise can help the brain secrete dopamine and other exciting and joyful chemicals, which can help lonely people adjust their emotional state. (People's Daily Health Comprehensive from People's Daily - Science Popularization China, Health Times, Life Times)