There’s no cure-all pill for loneliness, but connecting with others is a proven remedy.
That was the key point of a presentation called Understanding Loneliness by speaker, Patricia Morgan during a National Seniors’ Day learn and lunch at the Legacy Centre on Oct. 3.
Morgan is a clinical psychologist from Calgary who told the gathering loneliness was declared a global epidemic in 2018 by the World Health Organization.
She says loneliness is known to be able to cause as much harm as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.
“It can affect your mental health, your physical health. It can increase dementia, heart disease and stroke,” said Morgan.
She recently authored an award-winning Canadian counselling book titled, Return to Centre: Simple Strategies to Navigate Distress, Depression, and Disconnection.
“Loneliness causes depression,” said Morgan, making loneliness a no-brainer topic for seniors.
The subject and the event were organized by Lloydminster Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) and the Lloydminster Learning Council Association.
“I dug into it and found out we had an expert from Alberta who could speak to us about loneliness and offer us solutions,” said Marie Pierre Côté, community development coordinator with FCSS.
“Patricia is going to talk to us about the differences between isolation, being lonely and feeling lonely,” explained Côté at the outset.
“Many seniors are feeling lonely and are lonely, but there’s ways to combat that loneliness and we’re going to find out how.”
Morgan latched on to social connections to put a stop to loneliness.
“We need all kinds of connections. We need to have a confidant that we feel comfortable just being ourselves,” she said.
“We need to have a sense of belonging where we’re with family breaking bread. We need to have a sense of community where we can give our gifts and know we are on purpose.”
Morgan recognized that might be easier said than done for people with introverted preferences, but she said everyone can learn to make connections.
“Human beings are hard wired for connection and we evolved to have a sense of safety when we’re in community,” she said.
The trick, said Morgan is to start by embracing and loving yourself and acknowledge you are lonely and do something about it.
Surprising she noted a Harvard study shows youth aged 18-25 and not seniors is the most lonely demographic followed by single moms at home.
“We need to be in the emotional and energetic space of other people. We need to hear voices, to make eye contact and we need to see heads nod—all of that,” said Morgan.
The event included free cookies for attendees, a draw for door prizes and lunch catered by Colleen Hozack.
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