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Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness

nytimes.com

31–40 of 48 posts

Re: Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness

#31

I used to be lonely\empty before deciding to follow Christ. I tried and did just about anything and everything to fill this void and nothing lasted. Giving my life over to Him literally changed my life. I'm convinced that we are all created to be in a relationship with Him and until we are we will constantly search for other ways to fill that void.

Glad to know you know what I need.

Re: Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness

#32

I used to be lonely\empty before deciding to follow Christ. I tried and did just about anything and everything to fill this void and nothing lasted. Giving my life over to Him literally changed my life. I'm convinced that we are all created to be in a relationship with Him and until we are we will constantly search for other ways to fill that void.

We all need to find meaning for our existence. I'm pleased that you've found one that makes you happy. Please consider that meaning is personal, and don't proselytize your way as a privileged one that should apply to all people. Take a moment when you make statements of that sort and ask yourself what your true motivations are.

Re: Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness

#33
post #16
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Young people can walk and drive longer distances, and so normally have less reason to remain lonely, I would guess. Do lonely young people continue to be lonely mainly because they don't know how to initiate social interaction? Or because they don't realize that companionship is what they need?

> companionship is what they need I'm 40ish and married right now, but throughout my life I've alternated between being solitary and living with people. My take on it is that both are psychologically stressful in different ways. I've wondered once or twice whether it would be better to have some kind of drug or therapy that helps a person be content with being alone rather than assuming that companionship is going to…

Fuchemol (hermitin HCl) is FDA-approved to reduce your inconvenient cravings for social contact. Known side effects include repetitive meals, speaking to inanimate objects or animals, excessive self-stimulation, and dying alone. Talk to your doctor about whether the anti-loneliness pill might work for you today!

Clearly, some people exist that do not care much for the annoying habits of other humans. And some humans can't go a single day without reassuring themselves that they exist through the mirror of another person.

There must be some form of biochemical factor that determines an appropriate level of social interaction for any specific person, or we would not see the variation. Thus, it is only a matter of time before the specific receptor is identified, and a drug found that targets it without unpleasant side-effects.

Such a drug might be useful for future manned space industry. It reduces the number of variables required. If your pioneer crews don't necessarily have to interact socially to remain psychologically stable, you don't have to be quite as careful to ensure their social compatibility. They can all do their work, then go to their racks, swallow their pill, put on headphones, and thoroughly ignore each other for years on end.

Re: Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness

#34

I used to be lonely\empty before deciding to follow Christ. I tried and did just about anything and everything to fill this void and nothing lasted. Giving my life over to Him literally changed my life. I'm convinced that we are all created to be in a relationship with Him and until we are we will constantly search for other ways to fill that void.

Although I'm an atheist, I'll admit to considering going to church on a somewhat regular basis. Having an opportunity to commune with people in my community is a much higher consideration than actually believing in a higher power.

It could be argued that instead of a higher power being the inspiration of your improved state, it could be that having the opportunity to be with other people, or being a part of a group, could be the more important ingredient in your experiences

Re: Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness

#35

I used to be lonely\empty before deciding to follow Christ. I tried and did just about anything and everything to fill this void and nothing lasted. Giving my life over to Him literally changed my life. I'm convinced that we are all created to be in a relationship with Him and until we are we will constantly search for other ways to fill that void.

We all need to find meaning for our existence. I'm pleased that you've found one that makes you happy. Please consider that meaning is personal, and don't proselytize your way as a privileged one that should apply to all people. Take a moment when you make statements of that sort and ask yourself what your true motivations are.

What an excellent response! You just summarized my exact feelings about his post better than I ever could!

Re: Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness

#36

I have a feeling that this is all related to the entry of women into the workplace. Don't get me wrong; patriarchy is oppression and it has to go- but I think there were a lot of jobs being done by women which are now being done by nobody, and among those are the jobs of maintaining social cohesion and networking and so forth, which are a lot easier to do if you and your friends are somewhere other than at work at th…

To be honest if the solution is that women or men need to stay at home, maybe the whole of western society just needs a rethink. I've been a stay at home partner (male) for a few months and it's pretty lonely to be honest.

On the other hand, travel to somewhere like South East Asia and I didn't seem to notice any kind of loneliness epidemic. Families live closer together and people seem to form small communities where they share things and help each other in other ways. While the basis for my argument is anecdotal, it's a very different place in which people seemed to have much richer social lives.

Re: Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness

#37
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> companionship is what they need I'm 40ish and married right now, but throughout my life I've alternated between being solitary and living with people. My take on it is that both are psychologically stressful in different ways. I've wondered once or twice whether it would be better to have some kind of drug or therapy that helps a person be content with being alone rather than assuming that companionship is going to…

Fuchemol (hermitin HCl) is FDA-approved to reduce your inconvenient cravings for social contact. Known side effects include repetitive meals, speaking to inanimate objects or animals, excessive self-stimulation, and dying alone. Talk to your doctor about whether the anti-loneliness pill might work for you today! Clearly, some people exist that do not care much for the annoying habits of other humans. And some humans…

> Known side effects include repetitive meals, speaking to inanimate objects or animals, excessive self-stimulation, and dying alone.

On the other hand, your relationship could just as easily prevent you from writing a book, or getting a Master's degree, or traveling when and where you want, because you're spending every night at your clingy girlfriend's house eating popcorn and watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Re: Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness

#39

I used to be lonely\empty before deciding to follow Christ. I tried and did just about anything and everything to fill this void and nothing lasted. Giving my life over to Him literally changed my life. I'm convinced that we are all created to be in a relationship with Him and until we are we will constantly search for other ways to fill that void.

We all need to find meaning for our existence. I'm pleased that you've found one that makes you happy. Please consider that meaning is personal, and don't proselytize your way as a privileged one that should apply to all people. Take a moment when you make statements of that sort and ask yourself what your true motivations are.

Some people are lonely and looking for help. I've been there and this decision was the best thing that ever happened to me. I've seen it work for countless others. My motivation is simply to help others.

Re: Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness

#40
post #34

I used to be lonely\empty before deciding to follow Christ. I tried and did just about anything and everything to fill this void and nothing lasted. Giving my life over to Him literally changed my life. I'm convinced that we are all created to be in a relationship with Him and until we are we will constantly search for other ways to fill that void.

Although I'm an atheist, I'll admit to considering going to church on a somewhat regular basis. Having an opportunity to commune with people in my community is a much higher consideration than actually believing in a higher power. It could be argued that instead of a higher power being the inspiration of your improved state, it could be that having the opportunity to be with other people, or being a part of a group,…

I can respect that. I grew up playing sports and I've never been short on friends so I don't think that was it. It's hard to explain but just felt like a void in my life that nothing else filled.
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