Tis the season to be lonely.

Half a million pensioners will spend Christmas Day alone, while nearly three in five people over 55 will be wishing they could see more of their family. At any given time, around one in five Americans – 60 million people – feel so isolated that it makes them seriously unhappy

A new book called Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection is co-written by John Cacioppo, a neuroscientist. He says social pain is akin to physical pain. Chronic loneliness can do real physical damage and can lead to increased stress, levels, high blood pressure and disrupted sleep. Link to read the rest of this article by Aditya Chakrabortty in today’s Guardian.

You can help – spread a little kindness, bring back a sense of community. If you know someone who lives alone make a point of visiting them, take them a few special treats, better still invite them to eat with you.

Source: The Guardian