Loneliness has been epidemic in our society for several years and it affects all age groups, especially the young who are most exploited. If we use chronological age as the breakdown for the PERCENTAGE WHO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT L O N E L I N E S S, we have the following:
18-24 years 30%+
25-34 years 25%+
35-49 years 22%+
50-64 years 29%+
65 years up 17%+
It is quite interesting that there are numerous organizations which study the trends in loneliness, among them is Jama Research, which primarily focuses on different ramifications of holistic health. Also, there are ongoing research by AARP, CDC and the Pew Research Studies and others. Probably the most respected are the Pew Research, Jama, and CDC. The reason there is a growing interest in loneliness as it increases is because of the direct link to increase risk of chronic illnesses, as well as mental health concerns, especially with significant increase of depression and anxiety, and the potential reduction in one’s lifespan. For many years we have been aware that about 55% of us will die primarily because of stress related disorders, which generally believed is best managed from within ourselves usually without medication utilizing Biofeedback, powerful stress management techniques, CBT, hypnosis, and energy psychology, which especially focuses on a significant dimension of loneliness, which often has their basis with trauma and PTSD.
In the research that I have been involved with regard to loneliness, I have become very cognizant of a significant number of people who want to be identified in a group, and ideally, they want to live in the super ZIP Code, and they want to be well recognized as unique People with the freedom to pursue whatever they personally and uniquely desire. The irony is that so often these individuals then must be associated with the “In” church, school, country club, and they will do most anything to have the financial means to have as many toys as possible. I observe this with one of the latest toys, such as Elon Musk, Tesla, because it sets each person apart with something most cannot have. I have particularly seen this with individuals who, just purchased a Tesla and when the audience forms, they will click their Tesla “come to me button”, and the vehicle will slowly make it its way through the parking lot and stop in front of that person! For some it’s almost like winning a small lottery or being awarded a Nobel prize of some type. Many people will enter the “Rat Race of Life” and work frantically to accumulate the most of everything they can have because they must have it all NOW in the superficial present time, however, they have become the most distracted and interrupted people because they’re answering every message, every call, and every email etc. They often are stuck in their past life when they really didn’t have anything, but now they can appear as if they have everything, though it is on credit which often has sad and depressing things in it. Others in this group are focused on the future, which is not there yet and the emotional toll driven anxiety because they cannot possibly manage and imagine entering into another time zone without tripping and overwhelming, our inner world with more issues of anxiety, often panic, attacks, insomnia, etc…as we strive harder to be even more of what we are not.
Most ironically, what is often missed is really what we really do have and that is present time. Present time is truly a gift, a huge gift, it’s where everything important happens and where wonderful memories of one’s past, as well as beautiful dreams of one’s future, can take place. Every day, we must remember to open and step into our PRESENT GIFT. This is what is consistently not recognized by most people, because they are not connected, they are not in relationships but acting really hard to be what they are not and this is exhausting and leaves one feeling very empty. They are actually part of the silent epidemic where there are huge numbers of lonely people who may be in a room with 100 superficial friends they have no connection with because they’re primarily driven to be in the “Rat Race” of life, which is running from one’s past, skipping through the sweet spot, frantically reaching into what they hope the future has for them.
Next month I’m I am excited to share with you the second part of this “silent epidemic lifestyle” and ways to step out of the superficiality, the mindlessness of life and the painful consequences we are experiencing striving to be what one is not, and missing the significant blessings full of meaning and purpose, which are wrapped in our personal PRESENT GIFT, which is life itself!
—To speak with Dr. Tim Lynch, PhD., you can call him at
615-504-4357, or email him at tdlynch@bellsouth.net
If you want to know more about Dr. Tim check out Psychology Today Practice Directory, or his web: www.thelynchgroup.net
