The US Surgeon General recently released a report about a new epidemic facing Americans- loneliness. Loneliness can be described as a lack of social connection or isolation. With many things, the pandemic exacerbated feelings of loneliness. However, according to this new report, people of all ages have struggled with loneliness even prior to the pandemic. This leads to poor overall wellbeing.
If your organization has wellbeing initiatives in place, how does it address loneliness?
In this week's newsletter, we dive into the Surgeon General's report. Subscribers get access to activities, conversation starters, and challenges involving the Surgeon General's recommendations.
Read. Watch. Listen.
Surgeon General: We Have Become a Lonely Nation. It's Time to Fix That. -CNN
"A patient of mine once shared with me a most unusual story. He had worked for years in the food industry with a modest salary and humble lifestyle. Then he won the lottery. Overnight, his life changed. He quit his job and moved into a large house in a gated community.
Yet as he sat across from me, he sadly declared, 'Winning the lottery was one of the worst things that ever happened to me.' Wealthy but alone, this once vivacious, social man no longer knew his neighbors and had lost touch with his former co-workers. He soon developed high blood pressure and diabetes.
I thought about his story in 2017 when I found myself struggling with loneliness. My first stint as surgeon general had just ended. I was suddenly disconnected from the colleagues with whom I had spent most of my waking hours. It might not have been so bad had I not made a critical mistake: I had largely neglected my friendships during my tenure, convincing myself that I had to focus on work and I couldn't do both.
Even when I was physically with the people I loved, I wasn't present- I was often checking the news and responding to messages in my inbox. After my job ended, I felt ashamed to reach out to friends I had ignored. I found myself increasingly lonely and isolated, and it felt as if I was the only one who felt that way. Loneliness- like depression, with which it can be associated can chip away at your self-esteem and erode your sense of who you are. That's what happened to me."
U.S. Surgeon General Cites Loneliness As Serious Mental Health Hazard In New Report- Forbes
"Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, released an 85-page advisory declaring loneliness a new public health epidemic in the United States. 'Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in in plain sight- one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled and more productive lives,' Murthy states. 'Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders. Together, we can build a country that's healthier, more resilient, less lonely, and more connected.'
The new report tracks a decline in social connections- especially among young people- and shows that half of adults are lonely, linking it to billions of dollars in health care costs. The findings show that loneliness is as bad as smoking and has profound effects on mental health, increasing the risks of heart disease, stroke and dementia. He cities the antidote to this crisis as a need to rebuild the social fabric of this country through social connections."
America has a loneliness epidemic. Here are 6 steps to address it.- NPR
'There is an epidemic of loneliness in the United States and lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to a new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General.
The report released on Tuesday, titled "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation," finds that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness.
And it warns that the physical consequences of poor connection can be devastating, including a 29% increased risk of heart disease; a 32% increased risk of stroke; and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults.
"It's hard to put a price tag, if you will, on the amount of human suffering that people are experiencing right now," Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy told All Things Considered.
"In the last few decades, we've just lived through a dramatic pace of change. We move more, we change jobs more often, we are living with technology that has profoundly changed how we interact with each other and how we talk to each other. And you can feel lonely even if you have a lot of people around you, because loneliness is about the quality of your connections."
Across age groups, people are spending less time with each other in person than two decades ago. The advisory reported that this was most pronounced in young people aged 15-24 who had 70% less social interaction with their friends."
Loneliness & the Importance of Relationships with Dr. Amy Banks
"Recently someone posted this question in the introvert subreddit on reddit: 'How to deal with half wanting new friends and half wanting to be a hermit?'
I hear and read questions like this all the time from introverts and introverted HSPs. We cherish being alone, and then sometimes wonder if we can get along without worrying about having relationships. After all, relationships are time consuming, difficult, and can be painful.
But then we often realize that we cannot exist alone. It might seem easier to avoid relationships, but it is bad for our mental and physical health. Humans were built to need and thrive on connection with others.
A Vice.com interview with amy Banks, PhD. titled, 'An Expert Explains Why You Feel So Lonely All the Time' really piqued my interest in this topic. I loved Dr. Banks' scientific explanation of why having quality relationships is so important.
Dr. Banks was an instructor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and is now the Director of Advanced Training at Jean Baker Miller Training Institute at the Wellesley Centers for Women. Her newest book is called Wired to Connect: The Surprising Link Between Brain Science and Strong, Healthy Relationships.
On this episode, we talk about:
The health impact of loneliness and disconnection; why American society values the 'do-it-alone' mindset so strongly; the dopamine reward system and relationships; online bullying; how a boss or manager can use good relationships to improve the workplace; connections with animals; and...communism?!? (Note: communism is discussed simply for the concept of community vs. individualism. We are not saying we want to live in a communist society!)"
Unlocking Us: Loneliness and Connection with Dr. Vivek Murthy
"Have you ever struggled with feeling lonely- eve when you're surrounded by people you love? I have. It's painful and confusing. In this episode, I talk to Dr. Vivek Murthy, a physician and the 19th Surgeon General of the United States, about loneliness and the physical and emotional toll that social disconnection takes on us. We talk about his new book, Together, and what it takes for each of us to tilt the world toward love and connection."
The Simple Cure for Loneliness
"Baya Voce is the host of 'The Art of Connection', a web series looking to experts from across the globe on how to live your most fulfilled life. In this TEDx talk, Baya reveals a simple tool you can start using today to create more happiness, fulfillment, and connection.
Baya's business journey started as a cast member on MTV's The Real World where her interest in relationships was nurtured. She transformed her TV exposure into an entrepreneurial adventure, learning early on how the power of one strong connection can transform your life and career. Her inherent belief that the quality of your relationships equals the quality of your life and that your network is your net worth, led her to her interest in connection, community, and relationships. For the past decade she has studied connection in three pillars: connection with yourself, your partner, and your community. She is a Dating and Relationship Coach, founder of Secret SLC, co-founder of Womenpreneurs and hosts a monthly segment on AVC as Utah's Relationship Specialist. Baya is a Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner, studies Emotional Intelligence, Positive Psychology, and Body Language, and mentors under intimacy and relationship experts."
Weekly Activities
Activity 1: In the NYTimes article listed in this week's newsletter, Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General, outlined three steps for correcting this issue. For this week's activity, we focus on the the first recommendation:
"First, we must strengthen social infrastructure- the programs, policies, and structures that aid the development of healthy relationships. That means supporting school-based programs that teaches children about building healthy relationships, workplace design that fosters social connection, and community programs that bring people together."
What designs within your organization foster social connection?
How can you design your organization to foster more intentional social connections?
Activity 2: In the NYTimes article listed in this week's newsletter, Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General, outlined three steps for correcting this issue. For this week's conversation starter, we focus on the second recommendation:
"Second, we have to renegotiate our relationship with technology, creating space in our lives without our devices so we can be more present with one another. That also means choosing not to take part in online dialogues that amplify judgment and hate instead of understanding."
Ask yourself and others, what are your rules for engaging in online conversations?
Activity 3: In the NYTimes article listed in this week's newsletter, Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General, outlined three steps for correcting this issue. For this week's challenge, we focus on the third recommendation:
"Finally, we have to take steps in our personal lives to rebuild our connection to one another- and small steps can make a big difference. This is medicine hiding in plain sight: Evidence shows that connection is linked to better heart health, brain health and immunity. It could be spending 15 minutes each day to reach out to people we care about, introducing ourselves to our neighbors, checking on co-workers who may be having a hard time, sitting down with people with different views to get to know and understand them, and seeking opportunities to serve others recognizing that helping people is one of the most powerful antidotes to loneliness."
First watch this short video (12:30). "Amy Banks, M.D. discusses the C.A.R.E. program, an innovative approach to help people form healthy, thriving connections- ones that really "click" by healing some of the neurological damage that results from disconnection and strengthening the four neural pathways that make great relationships possible.
Research shows that people cannot reach their full potential unless they are in healthy connection with others. Dr. Amy Banks teaches us how to rewire our brains for healthier relationships and happier, more fulfilling lives.
We all experience moments when we feel isolated and alone. A 2006 Purdue University study found that twenty-five percent of Americans cannot name a single person they feel close to. Yet every single one of us is hardwired for close relationships. The key to more satisfying relationships- be it with a significant other, family member, or colleague- is to strengthen the neural pathways in our brains that encourage closeness and connection.
There are four distinct neural pathways that correspond to the four most important ingredients for healthy and satisfying relationships: calmness, acceptance, emotional resonance, and energy."
Complete this assessment to better understand the quality of your relationships and learn how to strengthen the neural pathways for connection.
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