• April 25, 2024

Loneliness is a state that affects the majority at some time in their life. For many it will be a choice that will produce pleasure and tranquility, but for others their presence will lead them to feel excluded and, in some cases, unhappy.

For José Ángel Medina, teacher of Department of Social Psychology of the Complutense University of Madrid, loneliness has two dimensions: an objective, physical or real that speaks of the certainty of a person's loneliness, of the absence of relationships, of isolation, of being alone or alone.

The other dimension is subjective or psychological, and takes into account the experience that the person has about their relationships or social situations.

3 effects of loneliness on your body

Beyond not having with whom to go to the movies or to eat, loneliness has effects on our body and health; but, do you know what they are? GetQoralHealth presents you three of them:

1. Your brain is more alert. In a study, conducted by John T. Cacioppo, of the University of Chicago, brain activity was measured during the sleep of lonely people and those who rested in company. Those who were alone were much more likely to wake up several times during the night. This suggests that the brain is on alert at night for fear of nighttime threats.

2. It produces cold. Beyond the metaphorical, a research published by the magazine Psychological Science , and made by Geoffrey J. Leonardelli and Chen-Bo Zhong, psychologists of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, reveals that deprivation of social contact causes not only anxiety and depression, but activates areas of the brain that regulate physical pain; example, the cold.

3. It helps you strengthen your character. This is one of the premises that addresses Sherry Turkle, who runs the Initiative on Technology and Self of MIT, in his book "Alone or together." In this regard, Turkle suggests reserving certain moments of the day, away from other people, but also from digital interactions, to be alone.

Loneliness is not a state to be avoided, in reality you must learn to live in their company. To do so, you need to reaffirm your identity, be self-sufficient and always have your space. Try it!

Video Medicine: 3 ways loneliness impacts your health (April 2024).