1y ago

Americans are lonely and it’s killing them. How the US can combat this new epidemic.

www.usatoday.com Americans are lonely and it’s killing them. How the US can combat this new epidemic.

Loneliness occurs when the connections a person needs are greater than what they have. Not everyone feels it the same way or for the same reason.

America has a new epidemic. It can’t be treated using traditional therapies even though it has debilitating and even deadly consequences.

The problem seeping in at the corners of our communities is loneliness and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is hoping to generate awareness and offer remedies before it claims more lives.

“Most of us probably think of loneliness as just a bad feeling,” he told USA TODAY. “It turns out that loneliness has far greater implications for our health when we struggle with a sense of social disconnection, being lonely or isolated.”

Loneliness is detrimental to mental and physical health, experts say, leading to an increased risk of heart disease, dementia, stroke and premature death. As researchers track record levels of self-reported loneliness, public health leaders are banding together to develop a public health framework to address the epidemic.

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It costs too much to be out and be social. There is no place for people to congregate that doesn’t require you to spend money. Even churches have $ expectations. In most places the local public library is the last free third space. I know everyone seems to love remote work, but for me remote work forced the place of my biggest stress to be in my house and I hate it. I’ve been mostly remote for the last 13 years and I’ve realized that I need an onsite work place so I can maintain my home as my place of relaxation and escape.
- Not just the cost, but the fact that so many people are working 50+ hours a week just to survive and simply don't have the time or energy. When you've gotta pick up a second job on the weekend to make rent, you're probably not going to have any energy to go out.
- I know it's tough when you can't separate work and home. I don't know what your setup is, but I only use the work laptop and not the monitor and dock they sent so I don't have to give permanent space to work stuff. When work is done the laptop closes and gets put in the work backpack next to my desk.
  Likewise, I commute to my home work by going on a 15 minute walk around the neighborhood before and after so I get some time separation. Giving myself time after work especially to mentally come home was important.
  Best of luck figuring out the right balance!
  
  For me I just maintain a dedicated work area, but thankfully my brain is able to switch from “clocked in” to “clocked out” mode easily enough.
  
  Same. Dedicated space and being very strict a about actually wearing presentable clothes (at least jeans and tshirts) and shoes. I don't let myself wear sweatpants or any other "relaxing" outfit. When I'm done with work, shoes and jeans come off. Confy clothes on. It really helps me delininate work mode or home mode.
- There is no place for people to congregate that doesn’t require you to spend money.
  I just go to friends' homes, or they come to mine. I'm quite happy to entertain rather than go out, it's more convenient and costs much less.
  
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  Not everyone is so lucky as to have friends to visit - there used to be places where one could socialize without spending money, and without having to entertain a vice like the bar or casino. There’s really no options for folks to go and just meet similar minded people, so new friends are just harder and harder to find as we get older.
  Idk how I made that font happen but I’m leaving it there.
  
  Can I ask what places used to exist that don't anymore where people could congregate for free and socialize?
  
  Yes, this is certainly true and I'm fortunate it's an option.
  
  What places are you talking about? I can't think of anything that would've existed that doesn't now.
  It's certainly true that more people are spending time at home with Netflix or video games that might have chosen a book and/or a more social space though.
- I ...

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