How loneliness affects our mind and mental health

Loneliness is a feeling in which a person feels left out, socially detached and unwanted. It triggers the same pathways in the brain that are involved in processing emotional responses to physical pain.

It is found that people facing loneliness usually show more decline in performance. It affects cognitive processes of brain. It can be an early sign of depression. The person may also face difficulty in falling asleep. Loneliness has also been found to increase the risk of developing dementia by as much as 20%. It can also increase the risk factor for diabetes, hypertension, physical activity and hearing loss

There was a time when I used to feel lonely because of being less social, having few friends and mainly because I was preparing for competitive exam so I didn’t socialize much. Crying alone for no reason, looking for someone to talk, not having the energy to work etc are the things which I faced. It lead to depression and anxiety.

To overcome this feeling of loneliness, one can practice meditation and yoga. But above all that, friends are the best therapists. Stay in contact with your buddies and share your joys and sorrows with them.