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Loneliness Essay

Decent Essays

Loneliness is an emotion that people know all too well, and it is different for each person While many people see loneliness akin or solitude or the act being alone, it is more of a state of mind. It causes people to feel alone, empty, and unwanted. People who are lonely want to make a connection with others, but due to their state of mind it is difficult to make friends. While spending time alone can offer a rich psychological experience, too much isolation can have a negative impact on one’s life. An unhealthy amount of solitude will lead to many illnesss and ravage one’s physical health. In the past loneliness was viewed as a social problem. Today aloneness is considered a health crisis that spreads to others. The UCLA Loneliness Scale …show more content…

Lonesomeness can also lead to depression. When someone is lonely, their natural responses to positive image and events become suppressed. People see the world through a negative filter and may think life is hopeless, which makes it more difficult to summon up energy and bravery to find happiness and change. Loneliness is such a huge problem that even books have been written about the health crisis. One example is the novella, “Of Mice and Men”, written by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck’s central theme throughout the entirety of the short story is loneliness and how it can change people’s minds and bodies in extreme ways. Many characters in the book are plagued with lonesomeness. For example, George, one of the main characters, goes around to different farms looking for work with his friend, Lennie. He is talking to Slim, who is also one of the many working hands on the ranch, “I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone… After a long time they get mean. They get wantin to fight” (Steinbeck). These ranchers have been alone for so long that they’re desperate to make any connection, even a violent one. While many people believe spending time alone is terrible for one’s health and emotional status, it is necessary for our brains to unwind and recharge and is crucial to certain areas of brain activity. Let’s face it, people can be pretty distracting. “When one removes as many distractions and interruptions as they can from a day,” says Dr. Carter, “You

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