Great article, Mark, as always! There is so much work behind your writing each week. Thank you. Such an important perspective here - that society often victim-blames people for their loneliness, having first excluded them. I find it's especially hard for people living with trauma and the consequences of abuse. Always having to get back into the world from the outside of things. And it's hard to get back in. People almost seem to guard conviviality as a resource. I guess we can all do more to share ours.
Thanks Dr Chris. The other thing is that, as with so many states of mind, it's very difficult for those who have never really been lonely to understand just how insidious and all-encompassing it can become.
Loneliness and isolation is also a huge issue for those with chronic health issues, physical or mental. Our culture almost demands that we be high functioning to be able to participate.
I love your writing Mark, I always have since reading your life changing memoir Underneath the Lemon 🍋 Tree. As a long time depression sufferer I know what loneliness is, despite having a house full of a loving wife and 3 beautiful children. Plus Oscar the ever faithful Border Terrier who completed our family 16 long years ago. I know what loneliness is sitting in a football stadium full of 75,000 people and I know what loneliness is when you can no longer work doing what you loved doing and losing your purpose. It’s a very complex issue loneliness and worthy of discussion. Is there a difference between isolation and solitude? When I’m unwell I can choose to isolate myself. Sometimes when I’m feeling OK I’ll walk up a hill all alone and love the solitude that I experience. I shall look forward to reading your further thoughts on the topic. Today I’m not lonely. I’m sitting in nature with my wife and the aforementioned canine companion (now 16 and a half years old) I’m meeting a friend of 45 years for a beer or two this evening and we are taking my 85 year old dad and his partner for lunch tomorrow. Life is good today 😊
Great article, Mark, as always! There is so much work behind your writing each week. Thank you. Such an important perspective here - that society often victim-blames people for their loneliness, having first excluded them. I find it's especially hard for people living with trauma and the consequences of abuse. Always having to get back into the world from the outside of things. And it's hard to get back in. People almost seem to guard conviviality as a resource. I guess we can all do more to share ours.
Thanks Dr Chris. The other thing is that, as with so many states of mind, it's very difficult for those who have never really been lonely to understand just how insidious and all-encompassing it can become.
Loneliness and isolation is also a huge issue for those with chronic health issues, physical or mental. Our culture almost demands that we be high functioning to be able to participate.
What is to be done? Ring a friend or acquaintance 😊
An awful lot easier said than done. If you have a friend or acquaintance you can ring then you're probably not feeling lonely.
I took the question as meaning. What can we do to battle the epidemic of loneliness?
I love your writing Mark, I always have since reading your life changing memoir Underneath the Lemon 🍋 Tree. As a long time depression sufferer I know what loneliness is, despite having a house full of a loving wife and 3 beautiful children. Plus Oscar the ever faithful Border Terrier who completed our family 16 long years ago. I know what loneliness is sitting in a football stadium full of 75,000 people and I know what loneliness is when you can no longer work doing what you loved doing and losing your purpose. It’s a very complex issue loneliness and worthy of discussion. Is there a difference between isolation and solitude? When I’m unwell I can choose to isolate myself. Sometimes when I’m feeling OK I’ll walk up a hill all alone and love the solitude that I experience. I shall look forward to reading your further thoughts on the topic. Today I’m not lonely. I’m sitting in nature with my wife and the aforementioned canine companion (now 16 and a half years old) I’m meeting a friend of 45 years for a beer or two this evening and we are taking my 85 year old dad and his partner for lunch tomorrow. Life is good today 😊
Thanks Adam. Lovely to hear that things are good in the Now. That’s all we can ever hope for. Best
Thank you Mark. The “Now” is all we have!! Let’s all enjoy it. 😊