Dr. Vivek Murthy, the 19th Surgeon General of the United States and author of 'Together', dives deep into the complex emotion of loneliness. He compares loneliness to hunger, signaling a need for connection. The discussion reveals how loneliness detrimentally affects mental health, especially among men, and its alarming rise in modern society. Murthy shares actionable strategies for combating this loneliness epidemic, emphasizing the importance of nurturing meaningful relationships and fostering genuine connections in our increasingly isolated world.
46:00
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Childhood Loneliness
Dr. Murthy recalls struggling with loneliness as a child, dreading school and feeling unsure about lunchtime.
He eventually built friendships but never forgot these feelings.
insights INSIGHT
Loneliness in Healthcare
Dr. Murthy noticed patients often came to the hospital alone, even for difficult conversations and end-of-life care.
This highlighted the prevalence of loneliness, although he initially lacked tools to address it directly.
insights INSIGHT
Loneliness as a Public Health Concern
Loneliness is a common thread in many health issues, from substance abuse to chronic diseases.
People often feel burdened, invisible, and like no one would notice their absence.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World
Vivek Murthy
In this book, Dr. Vivek Murthy makes a compelling case for loneliness as a major public health concern, comparable in harm to smoking. He argues that loneliness affects not only individual health but also societal cohesion, contributing to issues such as addiction, violence, depression, and anxiety. The book is divided into sections on understanding loneliness and building more connected lives, offering strategies like spending time with loved ones, focusing on each other, embracing solitude, and helping others. Murthy draws from personal experiences, scientific research, and community examples to illustrate the negative impacts of loneliness and the healing power of human connection.
We've all been there: you're sitting at home some evening and you don't have plans, you haven't heard from family or friends for awhile, and you've got things on your mind, but don't feel like there's anyone you can talk to about them. You feel down and adrift, and sense an almost physical ache in your heart. You're experiencing loneliness, and my guest today says we ought to interpret this feeling the way we would hunger or thirst -- as a signal that we have a need that we should take action to fulfill.
His name is Dr. Vivek Murthy, he served as the 19th Surgeon General of the United States, and he's the author of the book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World. We begin our conversation discussing what loneliness is exactly and how we can feel interpersonally fulfilled in some areas of our lives, and yet lonely in others. Vivek then walks us through the very tangible harm loneliness can do to our mental health, before exploring why loneliness has been increasing in the western world. Vivek and I then discuss how loneliness affects men in particular. We end our conversation with things we can all do to battle the loneliness epidemic and feel more connected to those around us.
The Art of Manliness 
