A nurse practitioner's Brief But Spectacular take on combating loneliness

Laurie Tiki shares her personal experiences with loneliness, highlighting its impact on various demographics, including teenage mothers, widows, and foster children. She discusses the extensive research linking loneliness to poor psychological and physical health outcomes, such as anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Tiki emphasizes that loneliness can occur even in crowded settings and is often accompanied by shame. She advocates for recognizing loneliness as a diagnosable condition and encourages creative pursuits as a means to combat it. Tiki advises those feeling lonely to seek help from healthcare providers and develop active plans to address their loneliness.

What personal experiences did the speaker mention that contributed to her understanding of loneliness?

• Living in a large family

• Being a teenage mother and adopting children from foster care

• Traveling the world and meeting new people

• Working in a corporate environment

According to the speaker, what are some health issues linked to loneliness?

• Better physical fitness

• Enhanced social skills

• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes

• Improved mental health

What misconception about loneliness does the speaker address?

• Loneliness is a sign of strength

• Loneliness is a modern phenomenon

• Loneliness is always associated with being alone

• Loneliness only affects older adults

What does the speaker suggest as a way to reduce feelings of loneliness?

• Ignoring feelings of loneliness

• Spending more time on social media

• Avoiding social interactions

• Engaging in creative activities like music and art

What advice does the speaker give to those who feel lonely?

• Start a new hobby

• Discuss it with a healthcare provider and seek help

• Move to a new city

• Keep it to themselves