Kathryn Lee, MHC

The loneliness pandemic. Studies have shown that individuals in social isolation have a higher risk of developing mental illnesses, coronary heart diseases and cardiovascular conditions. This past year, many have acutely experienced the mental and physical toll that isolation can have on an individual. 

Connection not only can be a preventive measure, but also a healing one as well. Humans, as social beings, are inherently programmed for communal connection. Sebastian Junger, a former war reporter and American journalist, in his research found that rather than the experience of war, the experience of adjusting back to society elevates the risk of post- traumatic stress disorder for veterans. Veterans experience a sudden and drastic contrast when returning home; they go from operating in a tight knit community to isolation. Veterans experience a setting in which we have been inherently programmed for and then an environment that directly contradicts that. It is the healing process and lack of community that puts individuals at risk. 

Just as when you are sick with a cold, or maybe even had a surgery, your recovery process is dependent on the care that others provide for you, whether it be family members, friends, and/or medical professionals. While this is not the only factor, having a supportive network during these times can either expedite the healing process and/or make it a more comfortable one. This same perspective can be applied to our mental health. When we are alone and isolated from our communities it puts us in a place that makes it difficult for us to heal appropriately. 

As New York begins to heal, reestablishing connections and meeting friends will be a part of that process! Keep in mind that others are experiencing the transition at a different pace, and do what is comfortable for YOU. While the pandemic was a collective experience it was and will be an individual one as well. 

More on this topic can be found in the inspiring Ted Talk here.