Americans like to think of themselves as independent and not needing anyone. While it is good to take responsibility for yourself, the truth is that we all need connection and support from other people sometimes, and being isolated can have serious long-term consequences for our mental and physical health. At Palms Behavioral Health in Harlingen, Texas, we value our patients’ support systems and encourage each person we serve in our inpatient and outpatient treatment programs to build the strongest, healthiest social networks possible.
The Difference Between Loneliness and Isolation
Loneliness and isolation are related but different problems. Loneliness is the distress that results from feeling separated from others. Isolation is a lack of social contacts and limited interaction with other people. It is possible to feel lonely while surrounded by people and to not feel lonely even while socially isolated, but the two often go hand in hand, particularly for young people and older adults.
Risk Factors for Social Isolation and Loneliness in Young People
Social media has taken a toll on how adolescents and young adults build relationships. They can simultaneously have hundreds of connections on virtual platforms while feeling no deep, meaningful friendships. When life is difficult or even when they want to share the joy of a wonderful experience, they may have no one to cry or celebrate with them. Additionally, young people are more commonly victims of bullying, which can occur in person or online. This can create a distance between the victim and their peers as well.
Risk Factors for Social Isolation and Loneliness in Seniors
Around a quarter of adults over age 65 are considered to be socially isolated. As people get older, they may experience a number of changes that can place them at higher risk of feeling lonely and being more separated from others than they might have been at other times in their lives:
- Retirement, leading to a lost sense of purpose gained from working
- Hearing and vision loss
- Memory issues
- Decreased mobility
- Loss of loved ones
- Inability to continue driving
Other At-Risk Groups
Age isn’t the only factor that can increase the chances of a person being lonely or isolated. People with disabilities, LGBT+ individuals, immigrants, and people who have low economic status are also more likely to struggle with this problem. People who are in caregiving roles that limit their ability to leave the home easily are also at risk of becoming isolated and feeling lonely, whether they are a stay-at-home parent to a small child or caring for an elderly or disabled family member.
The Impact of Being Alone
Whether a person feels alone because they lack emotional connection to other people or they don’t have the ability to access other people, the potential for negative outcomes is the same. They are likely to:
- Get too little exercise
- Drink and smoke too much
- Get poor sleep
- Experience emotional pain
As a result, they are more likely than more connected individuals to experience:
- Certain physical health concerns – especially the risk of heart disease and stroke
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Cognitive decline
- Dementia – social isolation increases the risk of developing dementia by 50 percent.
- Premature death – the risk from all causes of premature death is greater in people who are socially isolated. Social isolation is a greater risk factor than smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
What Can Be Done
Depending on the person’s age and health, why they are disconnected, and what resources are available to them, there are a number of ways to boost their engagement. Faith communities, LGBT+ organizations, senior centers, nonprofits focused on immigrants, and social programs designed for young people are all potential ways people can build their support systems.
If a person is able, volunteer opportunities can open doors to social engagement. Family and friends reaching out also makes a huge difference for someone who is disconnected. Additionally, pets can provide companionship and a reason for a person to leave their home, which can lead to opportunities for them to meet new people.
Removing barriers is another important step in helping people enjoy meaningful interactions with others. This could be as small as providing or scheduling transportation to events or joining them the first time to alleviate anxiety or as large as purchasing a hearing aid or paying for a membership to a club, society, or gym.
At Palms Behavioral Health, we seek to engage with our patients not only while they are with us but also at various intervals following their discharge from our program. They are also given the opportunity to build relationships with other people in group and family therapy sessions.
