Loneliness!

Loneliness is an unpleasant feeling in which a person experiences a strong sense of emptiness and solitude resulting from inadequate levels of social relationships. Everyone feels lonely every now and then. You recall the first time you left home? You felt lonely as you sat there just yourself alone missing home. You travel in a plane and you see everyone around talking and smiling and there you are all alone sitting by yourself feeling sorry for yourself? You were alone. You remember when you visited your friends and loved ones you had such a wonderful time, but then it was time to return to your job. You missed your friends so much that you felt lonely. Loneliness is a common feeling for everyone. Our world is filled with lonely people. Many men and women all around us are lonely and would give everything in the world to have company, but they do not. They are lonely. Just take a walk to the hospices and nursing homes and you are in no doubt of the fact that there are lonely people all around you. Loneliness is one of the silent killers of our time and most of the time we seem helpless.

There are many causes of loneliness. It could be lack of friendship when you were growing up or lack of meaningful people around  you when we most needed them. Loneliness may also be a symptom of depression or grief. Divorce, breakup or loss of a long-term relationship can initiate a long lonely life. Old age and sickness without a good and strong support system may also plunge someone into a long drawn loneliness. According to Henry Nouwen, “Loneliness is one of the most universal sources of human suffering today. Psychiatrists and clinical psychologist speak about it as the most frequently expressed compliant and the root not only of an increasing number of suicides but also of alcoholism, drug use, different psychosomatic symptoms – such as, headaches, stomach and low-back pains – and of a large number of traffic accidents. Children, adolescents, adults and old people are in growing degree exposed to the contagious disease of loneliness in a world in which a competitive individualism tries to reconcile itself with a culture that speaks about togetherness, unity and community as the ideals to strive for.”  So what can we do to overcome this disease that plagues our human existence?  

The cure of loneliness begins with self-care and a cultivation of a good support system. Being concerned for the welfare of others especially the elderly can spice up their lives. It is also good to spend sometime with those who need us more than we need ourselves. But ultimately loneliness cannot be cured unless we are prepared to work at it.