Loneliness

Is it a mental health thing? Still seems taboo to talk about. Stigma, assumptions of character, self-perpetuating... it's odd. My social life has picked up. Things are trending upward. Yet, consistently, when things are quiet, I end up feeling lonely—not so much acutely, but rather in a broad sense. I don't necessarily view it as a problem to solve outright, but it is indeed there, and with it a compulsion to speak on it.

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it's a symptom

Feb 11, 2019 at 1:40am

that can be associated with mental health. isolating from the world caused by a mental illness is where it would fit.

it, itself, is not a mental illness.

Loneliness is a killer

Feb 11, 2019 at 10:14am

We were not created as solitary creatures like certain mountain cat or birds who only come together briefly to mate. We were created to live in families and community social circles. Suggest get involved with service organizations helping those in need. Help yourself thru helping others.

Lo-Tek

Feb 11, 2019 at 10:39am

You seek The Precious...
They've done a bit of research on human contentment of late, because you're very much not alone in loneliness. There's an epidemic of it in the consumerist countries, it seems. And it's as dangerous to your health as a smoking habit. Fancy that.
Apparently, deep, meaningful relationships are where it's at. That's the only very definitive conclusion we have so far. These close ties, in their depth and number, predict one's wellness, contentment and quality of life.
Not necessarily romantic, this oddity was once called "friendship" (the real thing, not FB). Archaic, I know. This ethic was lost in the consumer culture of the modern world. Other people are just products or services, like in the other post about dating success.
You said it yourself, about "social life". A very shallow, superficial experience. Like coworkers, lunch companions, bar buddies or FWBs - more of a standard, packaged "service" than a human bond. Little to no emotional investment.

Ironic. There was a longish article on CBC just yesterday, by a journalist who lived in Van until her thirties. She described in detail the superficial nature of connections here, versus other places.
Seems she likes Calgary better. Because this to a large extent, one would think.
Sure as sh*t ain't the weather...

Being alone doesn't mean you're crazy

Feb 11, 2019 at 6:29pm

At least not me: I'm too superior for mere mortals

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