Mental Illness And Loneliness

 

Mental illness and loneliness often go hand in hand. Humans have a need for closeness and interactions with others, and when those essential needs are not met, loneliness can occur.  When someone is lonely, her well-being can be affected, and some symptoms of mental illness could manifest or intensify. This can be the start of a viscous cycle, as depression, social anxiety, addictions and hoarding can be linked in some degree to loneliness.

Depression

 Depression and loneliness are often correlated.  Without friends or others to bond to, feelings of intense sadness can occur.  A recent study from the University of Chicago revealed that if someone has loneliness at the beginning of a five year period of time, that person is likely to have depression later in that five year period.  Loneliness was a predictor for the depression.

Social Anxiety

While physical isolation can cause loneliness (due to location for instance), loneliness can also be the result of being uncomfortable building relationships with people.  This feeling is known as social anxiety. Loneliness can also create the feeling that you are not worthy of being in a good relationship, or that you are unlikable.  These thoughts then cause fear and anxiety about being around people, and the loneliness intensifies.

Addiction

Studies have found that people who are lonely before taking a drug are more likely to become addicted than those who are not lonely.  In Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs, author Johann Hari revealed that addictions are not just the result of chemical bonds in the brain, but are also the lack of having real connections to other people. Human connection can be crucial in avoiding and treating addictions.

Hoarding

Hoarding is an obsessive-compulsive disorder, but it can also be a result of loneliness.  When a person doesn't have meaningful relationships to fill their lives with, he or she could turn to filling the void with possessions.  The greater the loneliness, the greater amount of items it will take to fill that void.

If you are struggling with one of these conditions, or know someone who is, please consider the role that loneliness could be playing in exacerbating the symptoms.  Resolving the loneliness could lead to better mental outlook and health.