Healing from Loneliness the Medicinal Way
We are constantly surrounded by a lot of noise so it is only acceptable that we adapt to the chaos. Specifically, the noise seeps through our brain that it may become foreign to hear absolutely nothing at all. The feeling of loneliness creeps in.
In the midst of a pandemic, it is not surprising the rise of many people harboring feelings of isolation, depression, and loneliness. It is puzzling to hear that loneliness, especially a chronic case, is not classified as a recognized clinical health issue today. According to Entis’s article published in the Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, “Loneliness is increasingly being recognized as a major health problem, and previous studies have shown older people who experience loneliness have a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia.” In other words, an increase in feelings of loneliness can be a cause of many physical and mental health risks down the road.
Lucky for us, there have been talks in the medical world of mental health issues of a possible pill to be developed to combat loneliness. Experiencing chronic illness shouldn’t be generalized as just a feeling because it does increase the risks of developing mental health disorders (e.g. depression, anxiety). Loneliness is also heavily associated as a “...universal part of the human experience” (Entis, 2019), which begs the question: Why hasn’t there been any type of medical treatment to combat loneliness as there are for depression and anxiety? Just because people typically experience feelings of loneliness at certain points in their lives does not minimize its effects on mental health.
For now, we can only hope and be optimistic that alternative treatments such as occupying our time with activities we enjoy or connecting with people around us for support can alleviate the symptoms of loneliness.
References
https://www.genengnews.com/news/scientists-show-what-loneliness-looks-like-in-the-brain/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/26/pill-for-loneliness-psychology-science-medicine