AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
The Evolution of Loneliness
I often think of myself as a lonely person, even though I'm surrounded by such wonderful people. My therapist explained to me that this habit of anticipating a future loneliness or feeling an impending sense of loneliness is very similar to catastrophizing or future prepping. According to countless studies, our minds have essentially evolved to promote our survival through social connection. And feelings of loneliness are a neural mechanism of drawing us back into the protection of a group.