The Loneliness Epidemic: Impact on Mental and Physical Health

Living in modern cities or suburbs can make us feel deeply alone, surrounded by strangers. Duke University's research shows that the number of close confidants Americans have has significantly decreased in the past 20 years, resulting in a loneliness epidemic. Loneliness contributes to aggression, depression, alcoholism, and chronic illnesses, making it alarming for both social and medical reasons. US surgeon General Vivek Murthy states that loneliness is the most common pathology he observed while caring for patients. The human longing is to be fully known and loved, but the fear is to be fully known and unloved, leading us to settle for being unknowable and unlovable, resulting in a soul-crushing experience summarized as loneliness.