The Impact of Loneliness, Shame, and Social Isolation on Health and Longevity

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This chapter explores the impact of loneliness and social isolation on health and longevity, comparing it to the devastating effects of the AIDS epidemic. It delves into the parallels between social isolation and smoking, as well as the link between shame, self-worth, and mortality among closeted homosexuals. The chapter also addresses the decrease in life expectancy for surviving partners after the death of a spouse.

Episode #264. Every day for more than 20 years, Adam Sud woke up to a life that didn’t feel like a safe, secure, or hopeful place to be. Struggling with mental health from an early age and relying on addiction as the only dependable “solution”, he spent years facing each day as the most painful one he’d ever had.

More than a decade on from the turning point in his journey towards recovery, Adam shares his story and some defining realisations that helped shaped the life he is now excited to experience.

Everyone has something to learn from Adam’s story. Regardless of whether you have personally struggled with addiction and mental health, Adam’s profound understanding of behaviour and mindset will resonate with you, and potentially even shift the way you look at your life.

Specifically, we discuss:

Intro (00:00)
Adam Sud on recovery (04:15)
Why expressing love can be difficult (08:55)
Substance use disorder (Drug addiction) (14:37)
Adam's story (16:46)
Nurturing a child with ADHD (24:42)
Becoming hooked on Adderall (32:41)
Understanding our choices for pleasure (36:09)
Addiction and the fear of judgment (41:00)
Adam's suicide attempt & his treatment and recovery (46:00)
Plant-based diet and the pleasure trap (1:02:21)
Psychological factors behind unhealthy choices (1:09:25)
Remarkable recovery through nutrition (1:18:29)
Self-worth, loneliness, and recovery (1:25:40)
A call for a safer and compassionate approach to drug use (1:31:56)
The INFINITE study (1:41:03)
Adam on hitting rock bottom (1:46:24)
Outro (1:53:46)

To connect with Adam Sud, you can find him on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Don’t forget to visit his website, https://www.adamsud.com/, to learn more about Adam and read about The Infinite Study. Listen to Adam’s past appearances on The Proof in Episode #66 and Episode #144.

Please note that this episode covers disordered eating and suicide. If these topics are potential triggers for you, please listen with discretion or tune in to the next episode. You can find more episodes about mental health that focus less on personal experience here.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

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Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

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