Why is loneliness so common? It turns out it's not due to a lack social skills.

The main cause of loneliness is feeling misunderstood, and brain scans revealed this happens because lonely people process the world in other ways than non-lonely ones. But it's not just different from people who are happy with their social interactions who all show similar brain activity patterns among them; it's different from other lonely people too. This is why they can't just connect with each other to solve their issues together.

More info: https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/07/lonely-people-see-the-world-differently-according-to-their-brains/

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Gibbon · 70-79, M

The main cause in the article doesn't address the horrific loneliness resulting from the death of a beloved partner leaving one literally alone in the world. This is a kind of loneliness the so called grief experts have been trying to address for years. There's one major problem. The grief journey is a personal experience different for everyone traveling through it.

NerdyPotato · M

@Gibbon though that is a common reason for sure, I don't think that's the main one for the loneliness epidemic. Most lonely people didn't lose a partner; they never had one. Besides, grief and loneliness are different things. Losing a partner is hard, but doesn't necessarily make someone feel lonely. If it does, that means they didn't connect with anyone other than their partner, which only supports the conclusion of the study.

Gibbon · 70-79, M

@NerdyPotato Umm no family or friends (because of many moves for example) doesn't mean we don't connect it means there is no one to connect with. If you're not in those shoes you cannot like real grief understand it. And I didn't say anything about it was a main cause I meant the article didn't address it as a cause. Losing your person leaves a hole in your heart environment and mind. The mind literally has to rewire itself to deal with the presence of that hole.

Samek · 36-40, M

This makes me feel more lonely. Maybe I'm neuro-divergent or maybe the world is sick. I dunno.

NerdyPotato · M

@Samek neuro-divergency is probably a major cause of interpreting the world differently, and therefore feeling misunderstood and lonely, indeed.

TexasDude · 31-35, M

Interesting

NinaTina · 26-30, F

Its the internet, it scares people from the real world

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NerdyPotato · M

@Gibbon it's pretty clear that you didn't read the article, because that explicitly said the study found social skills did not appear to be a factor.

Gibbon · 70-79, M

@NerdyPotato I saw enough to say I believe some of the thoughts in my reply are valid.

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