Social connection is a universal human need. It’s important to recognize that need and if you’re feeling lonely or isolated, talk to your doctor or join a virtual support group.

In the meantime, we debunk common myths about loneliness.

Myth #1: Social isolation and loneliness are the same thing.
Social isolation is defined as the lack of contact with people in a social environment. Potential warning signs include living alone, having few social ties, and minimal social contact. Loneliness is a subjective emotional state in which there is a perception of social isolation, or of feeling lonely. Loneliness has also been described as a discrepancy between desired social relationships and actual social relationships.

Myth #2: I am happily married; there is no way I can be lonely.
It’s possible to be married and still be lonely, especially if spouses don’t share interests or aren’t emotionally close. Researchers have identified three dimensions of loneliness: Intimate, or emotional loneliness is the yearning for a close confidante or emotional partner. Relational, or social, loneliness is the longing for close friends and social companionship. Collective loneliness is the need for a network or community of people with shared purpose and interests.

Myth #3: Social isolation and loneliness have no effect on health.
Social isolation is as bad for your health as smoking a half a pack of cigarettes a day or of being obese, especially in the elderly. In a 2015 meta-analysis published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, the increased likelihood of death was 26 percent for people who reported being lonely, 29 percent for those who were socially isolated, and 32 percent for those living alone. Veterans are particularly at risk for social isolation and loneliness, which can increase the risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide. Loneliness can exacerbate symptoms of neurologic conditions, according to the Complementary and Alternative Medicine in PD (CAM Care PD) study published in NPJ Parkinson’s Disease in 2020 that looked at 1,527 participants with Parkinson’s disease. Those who answered True to the statement “I am lonely” reported approximately 55 percent greater symptom severity over time. They also had a lower quality of life score. By contrast, participants who had a lot of friends or who were married or in a partnership had a higher quality of life score.

Myth #4: Doctors can usually spot social isolation and loneliness. And patients often disclose it.
Many people who feel lonely or isolated do not share their feelings with their doctors. Some are ashamed to admit it; others may think it’s not worth mentioning. Men, in particular, have a harder time acknowledging loneliness and asking for help. People isolate themselves for many reasons, including stigma about their condition; symptoms they consider embarrassing such as drooling, tremor, a mask-like face, slow movement, an unpredictable bladder, poor fine motor skills, trouble walking, and slurred speech or a soft voice; as well as a real risk of falling. They also may not be able to drive and don’t want to bother friends for transportation. People who feel apathetic and depressed may be unmotivated to socialize or engage with others. Doctors should be more proactive with their patients to uncover loneliness and social isolation.

Myth #5: Even if I am lonely, there is nothing to be done about it.
You and your doctor can work together to ease feelings of loneliness and increase social engagement.

Your doctor can recommend or prescribe resources or activities in the community to help you develop healthy social connections. For example, the Togetherness Program at CareMore Health (800-589-3148), a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield, conducts telephone and video calls and connects patients to social programs in their community. The Veteran’s Administration recently created the “Compassionate Contact Corps Program” using volunteers to call veterans and check in on them. The National Health Service in the United Kingdom designed a program highlighted in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine on July 9, 2020, that lists referrals to group exercise classes, art-based therapies, volunteer opportunities, self-help groups for specific conditions, and community activities such as gardening, cooking, and befriending. Before the pandemic, there were many options for social engagement, including boxing, dancing, karate, yoga, meditation classes, group walks, and music and art classes. Book and movie clubs and other discussion groups might be helpful. Certainly, live in-person support groups also can provide connection and support.

Myth #6: COVID-19 makes loneliness and isolation inevitable.
It’s true that the pandemic has increased isolation and loneliness, but virtual support groups can help you stay connected. Technology allows patients to visualize each other on a screen and even participate in virtual exercise classes. Join a virtual happy hour or tea party. Coordinate telephone calls with other patients, support group leaders, volunteers, or your health care provider, if you don’t have an internet connection.

Read More:

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Neurologic Disease Resource Center