DR. RANJANI IYER and DR. JAY THIMMAPURAM encourage contemplative practices to combat loneliness. They also share other easy ways we can adopt to ensure we don’t give in to loneliness.
There is an innate need in all of us to be connected. But when there is a gap between the innate longing to be connected and the actualization, loneliness can result. While many of us associate loneliness with being alone, it is not the only cause of feeling lonely. While being alone may predispose us to feeling lonely, many studies show that the perception of loneliness is much higher in the younger generations.
Young people are the most digitally connected. Digital connection outweighs personal connection. In a recent survey conducted by CIGNA, Generation Z was found to be one of the loneliest generations. What does this tell us? That it is not just about the number of people we are connected to on social media; it is about the meaningfulness and depth of these connections. Data point to the fact that even if we relate to one person and that connection is deep and meaningful, it can be an antidote to loneliness. Even a connection with pets can be helpful.
Interestingly, even children and young adults are subjected to this perception of loneliness. Many high schoolers, while surrounded by people, still feel lonely. Studies suggest that chronic loneliness in generation Z has links to health issues such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, self-harm, and even heart conditions.
In the meditation process,
when we gently close our eyes
and connect
to an inner sublime state within our hearts,
a gradual change occurs
in the inner landscape,
and our relationship with ourselves becomes
harmonious.
In 2020, a team of high schoolers created a 4-week program to engage with their peers and build a community focused on self-care. With quarantine and social isolation leading to increased perceptions of loneliness in this age group, a study was conducted to focus on the impact of the self-care program on levels of loneliness in the students. The participants received an E-portfolio that included daily activities for self-care and guided Heartfulness practices. They also participated in four webinars, focusing on stress-management, positivity, improving sleep quality by aligning with circadian rhythms, and setting goals using self-observation.
This short program of self-care tools led to decreasing loneliness scores in the participants, and opened a new valley of possibilities to help our young children combat loneliness. A follow-up study, extended to three schools globally, has shown that this self-care program could help decrease loneliness and anxiety and improve life satisfaction in teens and adults, thus improving the health and well-being of the whole school community.
While many people experience loneliness, healthcare professionals are some of the most prone to loneliness. In a study conducted at Well Span York hospital, half the healthcare professionals, including the physicians and advanced practice providers, felt lonely. While there are many strategies, including improving social connections and engaging in activities that provide meaningful, pleasant enjoyment, other strategies may also help. One of these is Heartfulness Meditation, as loneliness is not only about our connection with others, but also about the relationship we have with ourselves. If that inner connection is harmonious, it can facilitate a feeling of connection even in the absence of significant outer changes. In the meditation process, when we gently close our eyes and connect to an inner sublime state within our hearts, a gradual change occurs in the inner landscape, and our relationship with ourselves becomes harmonious. The resulting inner connection can facilitate a connection with the outer world.
In this study, sleep data were also measured. Previous studies have shown that the practice of Heartfulness Meditation improves sleep patterns. A well-rested mind is better able to socialize, where as a poorly-rested mind may not be so willing to interact with others. If we facilitate rest for the mind, we can reduce the perception of loneliness. In this study, for the weekly offering of Heartfulness, an introduction was given to the participants. The UCLA Loneliness Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to measure loneliness and sleep.
Four weeks of Heartfulness Meditation practice resulted in a reduction in the perception of loneliness and an improvement in the perception of sleep. While this is encouraging, loneliness may also need to be addressed in all possible ways.
References:
Iyer, R.B., S. Vadlapudi, L. Iyer, V. Kumar, L. Iyer, P. Sriram, R. Tandon, Y. Morel, H. Kunamneni, S. Narayanan, A. Ganti, S. Sriram, R. Tandon, S. Sreenivasan, S. Vijayan, and P. Iyer, 2022. Impact of the Heartfulness program on loneliness in high schoolers: Randomized survey study. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being, 10.1111/aphw.12360.
Thimmapuram, J., R. Pargament, T. Bell, H. Schurk, and D.K. Madhusudhan, 2021. Heartfulness meditation improves loneliness and sleep in physicians and advance practice providers during COVID-19 pandemic. Hospital Practice (1995), 49(3), 194–202.
Illustrations by ARATI SHEDDE
Ranjani Iyer and Jayaram Thimmapuram
