Chronic loneliness syndrome

Being isolated from others is a very painful situation, especially when this isolation is not sought or desired. As social animals that we are, we need contact with other people to be well. However, in modern society more and more people claim to feel little integrated. One of the most extreme versions of this emotion is chronic loneliness syndrome.

This condition was studied and presented for the first time by researchers from several universities around the world. Among them, Ghent (Belgium) and Duke (United States). The scientists in charge of the study discovered that More and more young people feel totally isolated from the restbut the most worrying thing is that this feeling of loneliness is accompanied by many other negative elements.

In this article you will discover what exactly chronic loneliness syndrome is and why it is becoming more common. Furthermore, at the end you will find several tips so you can fight him if you think some of its symptoms may apply to your life.

What exactly is chronic loneliness syndrome?

The feeling of being isolated from others is, to a large extent, subjective. After all, we live surrounded by other people constantly. Therefore, loneliness does not usually have to do with the actual lack of people in our lives: in general, it is more related to the belief that no one values ​​us or wants to spend time with us.

Chronic loneliness syndrome would be the extreme version of this belief. The people who suffer from it They think they are totally disconnected from the rest. They feel misunderstood and believe that others do not want to spend time with them. This causes all kinds of problems in their daily lives.

Besides, People who suffer from this syndrome tend to isolate themselves from the rest. Because they believe that no one will accept them, they choose not to get involved in social situations. Of course, this tends to become “the whiting that bites its tail”: the more they avoid getting close to others, the lonelier they feel, and the less they want to seek social contact.

But in addition, chronic loneliness syndrome has another twist. Those affected by it not only feel isolated, but They think this situation is their fault.. They tend to believe that there is something wrong with them, and that is why others do not want to establish a relationship with them.

Why does this syndrome occur?

According to experts, the main cause of this problem would not be in the person’s social relationships. On the contrary, chronic loneliness syndrome would have its origin in the beliefs that those affected maintain about themselves. Due to the functioning of their own mind, these individuals would see themselves as less capable and less desirable than the rest.

This, of course, would be closely related to self-esteem and the way in which each person sees themselves. Once the first negative beliefs about oneself have appeared, Those affected would filter all the information that reaches them to reinforce them.

Thus, for example, if someone avoids talking to them, people with this syndrome would take it as a sign that they do not really deserve the company of others. In the event that something positive happens to them, however, They would turn him around to support their irrational ideas. This way, if another person invites them to a party, they will believe that he only did it because he feels sorry for them.

This way of thinking is called confirmation bias and It is the factor that most feeds chronic loneliness syndrome. But is there a way to combat it? How can we get out of this hole that we have dug ourselves?

How to eliminate this problem?

Below, you will find several keys to eliminate or reduce the symptoms of chronic loneliness.

The first thing you should do is remind you that no one is perfect. In general, this syndrome has to do with a lack of self-love. That said, if there is something about yourself that you would like to change, Get to work. Nothing protects self-esteem more than working hard to achieve a goal that motivates you. Once you are proud of yourself, you will see how much easier it is for you to confront others.Expose yourself to more social situations. If you isolate yourself from others, you will likely feel increasingly alone and less valid. Therefore, perhaps it is necessary that you increase your tolerance for risk in the social field. You will see how, although it may be hard at first, it will become easier for you to do it each time.Improve your social skills. Although it may seem like a lie, relating to others effectively is a habit that can be acquired. Luckily, there is currently a lot of information on the subject; Research it if you think it may be useful to you.

As you can see, chronic loneliness syndrome can become a serious problem if it is not treated; but luckily, There are many ways to escape their clutches. Achieving it is not always easy, but when you achieve it, your quality of life will improve significantly.

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