The Unbearable Heaviness of Loneliness
Description
In a culture where individual achievement is valued above the welfare of the group, isolation and loneliness will be prevalent. Human beings are troop primates by nature. When we are faced with prolonged loneliness, it goes against our primitive survival impulses to be a part of a group. Loneliness is both complex and multi-determined. As an example, the coronavirus pandemic with mandated isolation has increased the amount of loneliness already prevalent in our culture. This practical webinar will review the research and look at various clinical scenarios where isolation and loneliness are examined. This presentation will take a close look at exactly what is meant by “lonely,” as well as the various causes, health consequences, symptoms, and potential treatments for loneliness.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss various patient factors from psychosocial variables, to disorders, to personality variables associated with isolation and loneliness.
- Discuss current research on the impact of social isolation on individual (patients and staff) functioning and well-being.
- Consider a range of understandings and clinical approaches-as loneliness is multi-determined- helpful to the individual experiencing loneliness and isolation.