Loneliness Grips The Nation

Probably most will ignore this but maybe some will heed. I am NOT lonley, live alone and
aging and had a FULL BUSY LIFE. Interesting and informative read, and you might learn something.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has published an advisory on the growing epidemic of loneliness and social isolation
• Between 2003 and 2020, the time the average American spent with friends decreased by two-thirds, time spent in social engagements dropped by one-third, and time spent in isolation rose by 17%
• People who feel socially disconnected experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse and suicide. Being socially disconnected also impacts your mortality similarly to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and the mortality risk rises even higher with obesity and inactivity
• 21% of people reported “severe loneliness” during 2020 compared to just 6% prior to the pandemic. Another survey found that while social isolation decreased from the first to the second year of the pandemic, loneliness still increased. This suggests that when you break down the social fabric and don’t allow for organic social interactions, it has long-lasting consequences
• While Murthy does a good job detailing the extent of these problems, he completely ignores the fact that the U.S. government bears a huge responsibility for worsening the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation by enacting inhumane COVID rules and restrictions that all basically criminalized human-to-human contact and social interactions of all kinds, even among family members

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/...ore&cid=20230601&cid=DM1409366&bid=1816466860

 

I've experienced it first hand and perhaps more severely than most. I don't agree with this attack against the government over COVID restrictions, though, considering it's been a trend ever since social media came along and started to replace in-person interaction. It has become much easier to substitute online interaction for the real thing. People have less reason to interact with strangers when they do go out, considering how automated and mechanized everything is now, and how everyone keeps their face buried in a smartphone. We increasingly live in little techno-bubbles that are increasingly mobile as well.

 

And just plug into porn and use that good ole hand. THen you can have a nice conversation with your hand.

 

If the study is from 2003 to 2020, then I'm not sure how it can be pinned to Covid, although it certainly did not help. I know some elderly who wouldn't even go to the grocery store out of fear of getting infected, and they would also not let anyone visit them.

The link does not work, so I don't know what it says about age groups etc

 

I'm, 85 soon and didn't go to stores since I've had food delivery for years, I no longer drive. BUT I had a slew of people coming into my house with my bags of groceries and even helped put them away. I have k ept my own Immune System strong for many years....and so many old folks just don't know and listen to the government.,working on prevention is KEY to health issues.

 

We have some people in their 90s in our family, and they don't give a rip about what the government says. They listened to their doctors who told them that they are more likely than anyone to die from Covid if they got infected. And lot of people their age did die. Sure, prevention is key indeed, and avoiding crowded places is a key in presentation.

 

I and many others had a "welcome to my world!" type of reaction when those restrictions were introduced. It's a shame that the author wanted to make this into some anti-government hit piece, because the growing social isolation it talks about is a real issue. I'm not sure there is any way government could improve it, though. Seems like more of a citizen initiative kind of thing.

 

Yes, it is not something the government can fix. People move after jobs and leave parents behind and visit them on thanksgiving, and sometimes not even then. Sticking around the family and taking care of the elderly is still part of cultures in South America, Asia (to some extent) and Africa, but the West moved away from that some time ago and as people get busier and busier it only gets worse. The situation is a bit better in some European countries, but its only because their countries are smaller, and parents are close even if they live in different cities, while a flight from Miami to Seattle is almost 7 hrs long.

We are too busy chasing careers and keeping up with the Joneses.

Loneliness in US by year



Its about tech with younger people

 

Today it is worse than ever. And yes people move away, change jobs blah blah blah and have been for a multitude \
of years, BUT nothing is like today's robotic world and damage from covid lockdowns......

 

Well now, that does raise an issue that might be addressed by legislation, and that is how damned hard people have to work to get by these days. Americans work harder for less than a lot of people around the world, especially elsewhere in the western world. Europe is flirting with a four-day work week and already generally mandates vacation days, for instance, and they get better benefits including affordable health care.

 

What COVID lockdowns? Are you posting from 2020?

 

I think it's more about social media and technology than covid restrictions (covid restrictions were temporary and the problem precedes and outlives the restrictions). As an introvert, I've had more distress from being told there's something wrong with being isolated than being isolated, but it's definitely been increasing and it's mostly due to things like facebook, computer games, instagram, tiktok, replacing real face-to-face interactions. It has been bad for people's mental health, especially teens.

 

Ur still alive.
An oh so important fact of life. Change what ever it is you want to change as long as you don't interfere with others liberty.
Buddhist monks claim "Its the wanting" that drives life.
Today's robotic world can give so much more then one gained pestering neighbors for sugar back in the day. A silver lining is the covid lockdowns accelerated progress.
This conflict with Russia was always going to happen.

 

\
My fluorishing city of 80K has gone thru so many shutdowns, closed business, school lockdowns....that is what has gone on....and you know ir or are living with your head in a sandpile.i

 

Are you in China?

 

You can look at my profile, I'm in the socialist Republic of California. Lived here for over 50 yrs and it was Sane for many yrs.

 

I'm retired now and doing great, mainly because of SUPERWIFE. I'll be a victim of what you are talking about if she (God forbid) leaves me... until I catch up to her.
But when I was working, my main job was dealing with governments and militaries on large defense contracts in the hundreds of millions of dollars. I travelled the world working deals for aircraft, tanks, weapons and such. It was all done with solid eye contact, firm handshakes, and extensive conversations leading to trust. More deals were made on the golf course than in the boardroom and NONE were made in televideo exchanges. It was all very personal.

Over the years, as the social media generations emerged, less and less business was done this way. I actually made a good buck conducting business for younger folks that couldn't see past their iPhone.

Just an observation.

 

And your city is still locking down? We haven't had lockdowns where I'm at in a very long time.

 

Some of us can't even catch a break online:

Confused, uncool, and nowhere to scroll: The internet has become hostile for millennials like me
If TikTok is too young, Facebook is too geriatric and Twitter is a cesspit, where are digital natives – who practically invented the ways we use the modern internet – expected to go, asks Harriet Gibsone

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/millennial-internet-social-media-b2348853.html

This forum is pretty hostile too. That's as much an epidemic as loneliness -- hostility toward people based on crap you've read or heard somewhere online, where emotionally manipulative misinformation and disinformation is everywhere and YUGE business.

 

Oh the hostility and hate are on all the forums I'm a member, but 2 one is Smart Patients and the other I won't mention,, we don't need new members, members there are sane and rather kind.

 

Then how do you discuss politics?

 

I try to discuss politics in a civil manner and if a discusson isn't coming out that way, I am gone.

 

The damage from the Covid restrictions, the mistrust and fear didn't end or dissipate at the end of the pandemic. We will likely never recover or get back like we were.

 

It is hardly the first or the worst pandemic or lockdown this country has experienced. History shows that things will be just fine.