Part 1/10:
Understanding Loneliness and Cultivating Connection
Breaking Down Common Myths About Loneliness
From a young age, society tends to program us to see individuals who are alone as "loners"—implying that something is inherently wrong with those who spend time by themselves. We often associate solitude with negative traits, perceiving such individuals as unlikable or socially inept. This societal stigma creates a bias that equates being alone with loneliness or social deficiency. As a result, feeling lonely triggers a cascade of negative cognitive patterns, such as rumination and catastrophizing about social interactions. These thoughts influence not just our behaviors but also impact our brain function and physical health.