Introduction:
Loneliness is an unpleasant experience that prevails when an individual’s network of social relationships is lacking either quantitatively or qualitatively. Anyone and everyone can be victims of stress but living with a long-term (chronic) illness can make one very vulnerable. Those living with chronic illness need to get adapted to new stressors of life like taking measures to manage the illness and practice self-care, dealing with pain or discomfort caused by the condition, coping with financial constraints, dealing with feelings of confusion, frustration, or isolation, and adapt to new limitations caused by the illness.
How Does Chronic Illness Result in Loneliness?
Fatigue and pain experienced by individuals suffering from chronic illness can affect their interaction at work, school, or social life. Even when one with a chronic ailment is able to travel to work or other places, they might be instilled with a fear of other people noticing their symptoms which could result in self-isolation. These thoughts commonly occur in those living with chronic illness, and they forego the opportunities that enable them to connect with other people.
The fear of them being found disappointing also creates a barrier to socializing with other people. The negative perception of chronic illness is further fueled by negative thoughts when one is alone and self-isolated. The higher the level of loneliness, the higher will be the negative perception of one’s illness. Having a negative perception of one’s chronic illness affects mental health and also diminishes the ability to deal with the illness.
What Are the Health Risks Associated With Loneliness?
Loneliness can have the following impacts on one’s health:
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Staying in isolation can significantly increase the risk of premature death. This risk is greater than the risks of smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity.
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Social isolation has been found to increase the risk of developing dementia (a group of social and thinking symptoms that hinders daily functioning) by 50 %.
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Loneliness has been found to be linked with increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide.
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Poor social relationships have been found to pose an increased risk of developing stroke by 32 % and the risk of developing heart disease by 29 %.
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Loneliness in heart failure patients has been found to increase the risk of hospitalization by 68 %, increase the risk of emergency department visits by 57 %, and increase the risk of death by four times.
How to Identify Whether One Is Affected by Chronic Loneliness?
Chronic loneliness can create a feeling of sadness or emptiness, especially when one is alone. Other symptoms include:
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Poor sleep.
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Difficulty focusing.
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Feeling foggy and having decreased energy.
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Poor appetite.
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Substance misuse.
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Preferring physical warmth.
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Body aches and pains.
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Falling sick frequently.
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Restless or anxious.
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Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or self-doubt.
What Are the Perspectives of Loneliness in Those Living With a Chronic Illness?
Those living with chronic illnesses hold their illness to be accountable for their loneliness rather than realizing the fact that they have chosen to withdraw themselves from society due to their illness and not their loneliness. They believe that if their ailment cannot be fixed, they cannot fix their loneliness. One may find it difficult to deal with loneliness, but it is not something that is impossible. Moving out of loneliness can not only improve the quality of one’s life but also improve their perception of the illness.
Loneliness is an indicator that one has deviated in a way that is not good. The remedy to loneliness is to get back on track and connect with people. Establishing contact with others should be both quantitative and qualitative. Individuals living with chronic illness have a fear of discussing their condition with other people because of the fear of being judged or ridiculed. This perception can be changed with the help of various therapies. Staying in contact with the right person can help one deal with their condition both physically and mentally.
What Steps Can Be Taken to Manage Chronic Illness and Avoid Loneliness?
The following steps can be taken to manage chronic illness:
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Understanding the Condition: It can be helpful if one takes steps to understand one’s chronic ailment in detail, which includes the symptoms and treatment options. One can do this by discussing with their physician, joining patient associations for specific conditions, finding information online, and so on. One needs to find out what eases and what complicates their symptoms. Any changes that one observes can be jotted down in a notebook and mentioned to the physician so that they would be able to guide the individual accordingly.
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Dealing With Emotions: The chronic illness and the ways in which it impacts one’s life can affect one’s mental health resulting in fear, stress, grief, rage, anxiety, and depression. One can explore different methods of coping with stress and other emotions brought about by the illness. This can include exercising, listening to music, dancing, stretching, meditation, deep breathing, reading, cooking, spending time with friends and family members, and so on.
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Sense of Control: One must not depend on others to help them deal with the chronic ailment. Self-care helps one gain control and improve the quality of life. This can be initiated by following the suggested treatment plan. This includes taking the prescribed medications on time without depending on others to remind them. Other self-care measures include preparing a chart and eating nutritious foods, managing emotions, attitude and relationships, and exercising regularly which would elevate one’s mood, ease the symptoms, and improve mobility.
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Relationship Management: Relationship management plays a vital role in dealing with chronic conditions. It is normal for those living with chronic conditions to feel low and have limited time and energy for socializing with others. Some of the friends and family members also may not be aware of the difficulties that one is going through. Spending time with close ones can help relax the mind and improve mental health. On the other hand, it is also necessary to let go of relationships that cause more stress than support.
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Changing the Perspective: One’s attitude and approach can make a remarkable difference in one’s quality of life. If one views themselves as vulnerable and ashamed of their condition, they can be further affected by others’ responses. One should accept their condition and learn to adapt and deal with it with confidence. Developing habits and new skills to identify what works best can enable one to face challenges with confidence and determination.
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Keeping Oneself Engaged: Identifying and getting engaged in one’s area of interest can divert the mind from thinking about the chronic illness and spending time in loneliness. This can involve doing any favorite hobbies, volunteering, or participating in community events. Trying to do new things can increase one’s focus on learning and acquiring the skill.
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Adopting a Pet: Having another living creature at home can relax the mind, feel engaged, and enhance the feeling of connection. Research has shown that having pets can have numerous benefits on mental health, including decreasing loneliness.
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Professional Help: When things go out of control and if one finds it difficult to deal with their chronic condition emotionally, then one can take help from a psychiatrist or a counselor who will teach ways to deal with the condition.
Conclusion:
Living with a chronic illness is not something that needs to be ashamed of. Changing one’s negative perspective about living with a chronic ailment is the first step toward dealing with the condition. Staying connected with others and keeping oneself engaged can avoid loneliness. One must feel worthy and wanted. Loneliness can affect one psychologically by causing anxiety, stress, and depression. It can also affect one’s physical health by affecting sleep, causing heart disease, and so on. Seeking help from a psychiatrist or counselor can aid one in socializing with others, diminishing loneliness, and improving the quality of life.
