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The Health Hazard of Being Lonely and Living Alone and What to Do

The Health Hazard of Being Lonely and Living Alone and What to Do

by Lisa Morris / Monday, 12 June 2017 / Published in

New Studies Reveal the Health Hazard of Being Lonely and Living Alone

After decades of research on loneliness, it’s becoming evident that being lonely living alone or just living alone can have a devastating impact on one’s personal health and actually create a health hazard.

Research conducted by Brigham Young University has been analyzing nearly 35 years of data on how living alone can impact our lifespans. Let’s take a deeper look at how the choices we make regarding dating and relationships are creating a negative impact on our lives and health.

“Thirty-Five Years of Data on how Living Alone Can Impact our Lifespans”

I can attest that being lonely and living alone are two very different lifestyles. Furthermore, I was surprised to learn that living alone was found to be MORE harmful than the feelings of loneliness.
lonely living alone health hazard

As it turns out, I enjoyed the single, divorced lifestyle for many years. It was refreshing to choose what I wanted to do and when. Every other weekend off without the kids and focused time for personal growth. In addition, simple things like having a protein shake for dinner when I didn’t feel like cooking. My friends often commented, “You just make divorce and living alone look so good!” Furthermore, I rarely felt lonely and sad and believed I mastered being single. I occasionally had the “Aw, it might be nice…” moment. But even with these fleeting thoughts, it was easy to get into a creative project and lose myself in the art of being alone once again.

“Reality Doesn’t Exist Without Relationship”

However, the more I searched spiritually to understand personal fulfillment and the path to self-actualization, I was consistently pointed down the path of relationship. Furthermore, I struggled with the idea that being alone was not supposed to be part of my soul’s journey. My research in various spiritual texts kept confirming that I am a being who ONLY exists in the reality of relationships and this really messed with my mind. As such, I felt to be in a committed relationship would require me to give up certain things. For starters, I would have to give up a lifestyle I loved. Only now, after half a decade of being open-minded enough to allow something different to happen, do I understand that living within the devotion of a relationship isn’t giving up…it’s having it all.

Living within the Devotion of a Relationship Isn’t Giving Up . . .
It’s Having it All!

lonely living alone health hazardBelow is a summary of points from the research of being lonely and living alone. Furthermore, the unsettling news when it comes to the health hazard of both:

– “The effect of this is comparable to obesity. Something public health takes very seriously,” says BYU researcher Julianne Holt-Lundstad, lead author of the study. “We need to start taking our social relationships more seriously.”

– “The data, based on roughly 3 million participants, found that the subjective feeling of loneliness increases the risk of death by 26%. Also, this is particularly worrisome given that loneliness plagues nearly 60 million Americans.”

But What if You Live Alone? What if You Enjoy Spending Time by Yourself?

lonely living alone health hazard

– “While being alone and feeling alone are not the same thing, the effect on longevity, however, is similar. Social isolation and living alone are found to be even more harmful to a person’s health than feelings of loneliness. Increasing mortality risk by 29% and 32% respectively. Therefore, this is on par with the risk mortality associated with obesity.”

– “Yet as staggering as these findings are, they aren’t exactly new. Earlier research has found that isolation and loneliness threaten longevity as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or being an alcoholic. And a number of studies have revealed the ways isolation and loneliness can manifest in health issues.”

The same research reveals the potentially detrimental influence of negativity in close relationships is also to be considered in the same manner.

Can’t Live With Them and Can’t Live Without Them!

Furthermore, we (as evolved beings) truly need to understand how we create or recreate from yesterday’s thoughts and memories. We have to make a deliberate, conscious effort to do something differently. Relationships don’t make us angry – controlling – ugly – wounded – monstrous beings. But rather relationships bring all this loveliness to the surface so we can face it head on and change it! We go into this process in great detail through the Laws of Love.

lonely living alone health hazard

This Process of Discovery Requires us to Pause, Ask, Listen, Question our Judgments and Open Our Minds…and Hearts.

When we surrender to the emptiness it is the fullness of being one with another in which we experience.

The closed mind is the reason we don’t have the love in our lives for which we yearn. Therefore, this seeking is a call from the soul. It’s not about finding one’s “soul mate,” but rather it’s about answering to the soul’s calling. Oh, and by the way, the ringtone sounds a lot like love…

The conversation continues below.  Let us know your thoughts and experiences when it comes to being lonely and living alone.

 

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Tagged under: being lonely and living alone, health hazards living alone, health hazards lonely living alone, how living alone can impact, living alone, Living Alone Depression, Living Alone Forever, Living Alone Health Problems, Living Alone Healthy, Living Alone Unhealthy, Living Alone Vs Marriage, Living Alone With Depressio, Loneliness And Depression, Loneliness And Isolation, Loneliness Depression, Loneliness Disease, Loneliness Relationship, Loneliness Vs Aloneness, Loneliness Vs Smoking, Loneliness Vs Solitude

About Lisa Morris

I am a student of world religions, A Course in Miracles, A Course of Love and other spiritual teachings. I find myself intrigued by scientific studies, and I am a fan of different philosophies about life. I obsess over the question, "Who am I, what is it all for and what about LOVE?" I have discovered first-hand that applying these tools, while in the midst of relationship challenges, changes everything….changes life. Throughout the curriculum of Relaxed Relationships, there is mention of God. It would be impossible to talk about LOVE without mentioning its Source. "Union is impossible without God. God is Union. Is this not like saying God is Love? Love is impossible without union. The same is true of relationship" ~ A Course of Love.

4 Comments to “ The Health Hazard of Being Lonely and Living Alone and What to Do”

  1. Relaxed Relationships says :
    September 1, 2017 at 11:15 am

    That’s exactly what we do here…discover love!

  2. Truth Really Is says :
    May 3, 2017 at 12:57 pm

    Well that certainly be a very serious problem to be all alone all the time not having someone to share your life with especially if you would love to be in a good relationship.

  3. Lisa Morris says :
    October 25, 2016 at 1:00 pm

    This is so great to read Paula! We miss having you in the group but sounds like Arizona held the keys for you, as you knew it would. I’m so happy for you and Derrick. If he picked you he must be amazing! I really appreciate the update and please keep me posted on your wonderful life. Thank you for being you. I appreciate this so much!

  4. Paula says :
    October 25, 2016 at 12:12 pm

    Lisa,

    Another great topic and informative article. I am going to share it with all my friends and family especially my kids and recommend they do the same. Everyone needs to read this. You are such a blessing to so many of us. Thank you for being you and sharing all that you do. Really miss your group.

    AZ update: I am happy to report that I am no longer single or lonely. I have been blessed with a godly man who loves me inside and out so much so that he asked me to marry him. I pinch myself everyday and have never felt a love like this. Derrick is amazing. I’m looking forward to our journey. I knew he was coming but just didnt know when.

    As I grew older I knew I deserved love and never gave up hope. I just needed to be patient. This union falls under becareful what you wish for.

    Life is short and you’ve got to Live! Live! Live! Like Auntie Mame says and connect with awesome women like you.

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