On today’s show, I discuss issues surrounding isolation and loneliness. I talk about what to do when you feel lonely or isolated in a variety of different scenarios.
On today’s show, I discuss issues surrounding isolation and loneliness. I talk about what to do when you feel lonely or isolated in a variety of different scenarios.
I also discuss the moments when we may wish to welcome isolation and spending time alone.
I round off my discussion by looking at some of the barriers that we may face in seeking professional help for mental illnesses, which is inspired by a recent article discussing some of the mental health struggles experienced by Ed Sheeran.
Topics:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:02 Recap of last week’s show Getting Rid of “The Negatives”
00:04:09 Isolation: Avoiding It, Dealing With It – And Welcoming It For Your Mental Health
00:06:52 Humans as social animals
00:09:02 Social isolation and its physical impacts
00:11:17 Impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic
00:14:29 Seniors and isolation
00:15:38 Being young and studying and isolation
00:18:33 Steps to take to combat isolation and loneliness
00:27:42 Social conditioning and lack of authenticity as isolating
00:33:32 What do when you’re spiralling
00:35:49 Welcoming isolation
00:39:26 Seeking professional help: Ed Sheeran’s experiences with depression
00:41:48 Barriers to seeking help: shame
00:42:20 Barriers to seeking help: cultural stigmas
00:44:28 Barriers to seeking help: assumptions made by others
00:45:46 Barriers to seeking help: pressing the “help button” not being an immediate fix
00:46:24 Conclusions: making the “n” in “lonely” into a “v” in “lovely”
Online resources:
Infinite Mindcare, Cayman Islands: https://www.infinitemindcare.com
Alex Panton Foundation, Cayman Islands: https://alexpantonfoundation.ky
Loud Silent Voices, Cayman Islands: http://www.lsv.support
The Wellness Center, Cayman Islands: https://wellnesscentre.ky
Alexandra Owen, Tell Me All I Need to Know About Oxytocin, Psycom: https://www.psycom.net/oxytocin
Kristin Fuller, MD, Does Oxytocin Affect Your Mental Health? https://www.verywellmind.com/does-oxytocin-affect-your-mental-health-5114940
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html
National Institute of Ageing, Social isolation, loneliness in older people pose health risks: https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/social-isolation-loneliness-older-people-pose-health-risks
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Understanding the Effects of Social Isolation on Mental Health: https://publichealth.tulane.edu/blog/effects-of-social-isolation-on-mental-health/
Bzdok and Dunbar, Social isolation and the brain in the pandemic era, Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-022-01453-0
Ingrid King, The Cat’s Purr: A Biomechanical Healing Mechanism? https://consciouscat.net/the-cats-purr-a-biomechanical-healing-mechanism/
Dr. Gabor Mate, Dr. Dan Siegel, and Dr. Elissa Epel, Living Well with Stress and Trauma: Embracing Connection, Love, and Purpose, available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78jvZ-zhT-U
Lyn Christian, How to be your Authentic Self: 7 Powerful Strategies to Be True: https://soulsalt.com/how-to-be-your-authentic-self/
BBC News, Online, Ed Sheeran ‘didn’t want to live’ after his friends Jamal Edwards and Shayne Warne died: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65031622
Books:
Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Ethan Kross, Chatter
Dame Stephanie Shirley, Let It Go: My Extraordinary Story – From Refugee to Entrepreneur to Philanthropist
Note:
Whilst this show is about raising mental health awareness, I am not a medical doctor and am not qualified to give mental health advice. If you are experiencing any mental health issues, please consult a qualified professional.
The “Shuvra Deb: With You” Podcast is inspired and brought to you by Shuvra Deb.
Copyright Shuvra Deb ©
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