Loneliness And Insomnia: An Unexpected Connection

Loneliness and insomnia are more closely linked than you might think. Isolated individuals may be more prone to insomnia. This also applies to people with limited social life. Also, social networks and the internet have created the perfect conditions for people to have less close contact with those around them.

In addition, when they distance themselves or treat you unkindly, people can cause you to become entrenched in your own controlled but lonely space. This precondition for isolation can have many disadvantages; and one of the worst can be that one has difficulty falling asleep.

Single people are 25% more likely not to sleep well

When a group of researchers from King’s College (UK) conducted a study on sleep habits, they expected to find a link between insomnia and several different lifestyle factors. However, this is not what happened. Their research studied factors such as employment status, having or not having children, alcohol consumption and even genes.

Eventually, none of these had a direct relationship to sleep. But one aspect had: a feeling of loneliness. In fact, people who felt alone were 25% more likely to suffer from this unpleasant sleep disorder.

Loneliness and insomnia

The trend was even greater among those who reported having been victims of childhood abuse. Abuse, rape and bullying all all triggers isolation, which in turn affects the sleep of the people involved.

All of this encourages us to reflect on how trauma affects a person’s sleep quality and quantity. After all, substance abuse scenarios involve stress, confusion, anxiety, and psychological change. However, this was not the only crucial study on the subject.

The same tendency occurs in adults

In 2011, researchers in South Dakota, USA, conducted a similar study. At the time, they focused on 95 adults who said they felt “alone,” even though they were not 100% isolated. Their study could not find a direct link between loneliness and insomnia.

Most, however, described a phenomenon known as fragmented sleep. In this their rest was often interrupted. Both studies came to similar conclusions: The perception of loneliness generates insomnia, which is bad for human health.

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Anthropological hypothesis

Overall, researchers from the first study believe that this link with insomnia is an evolutionary response. From this perspective, loneliness in the human psyche is translated into insecurity and a sense of helplessness. We are social beings who need to connect with others in order to survive, which is why the feeling of loneliness hurts us so much.

When we also feel isolated, the brain prepares itself for prevention, combat, and escape. This could explain why people are constantly waking up at night. Our body is trying to get out of this situation and to do that it needs you to be awake and alert.

In short, there may be a self-preserving instinct that is triggered when you feel lonely. This is especially true for those who are newly self-employed (young people) or those who have recently moved to a new place.

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Learn to be independent

The results of both studies confirm the importance of learning to be independent. Preparation from a young age can make it easier to adapt to changes in adulthood, and parents play a crucial role in all of this.

How can you help young people become more independent? Each parent is likely to have their own method. But what is important is that children and young adults are placed in controlled situations where they have to take care of themselves.

A sense of success and achieving something can be another key to creating stability for newly independent children. In addition, regular phone calls and emails can provide a sense of support. Taking a step-by-step approach can make things a lot easier for the young person trying to adapt to a new lifestyle.

It is also a good idea for parents to visit their children on the weekends. That way, they can contribute to their children’s emotional stability. This helps boost their confidence while reminding them that they are not alone.

How to fight loneliness and insomnia

Although we are more connected than before, we are strangely more lonely than ever. Smartphones, social networks and being online 24/7 have pushed us away from those closest to us. Because of this, we need to renew the tools that bring people together socially, for the sake of our own physical and emotional well-being.

In addition, we need to pay attention to people who have been victims of abuse, those who have recently moved or lost a partner, as well as older people. They are the most vulnerable to feelings of isolation.

Therefore, if you know someone who may be feeling lonely, do not be afraid to reach out to them. Most often, it will make a huge difference. On the other hand, if you yourself feel lonely, try reaching out to your close friends or family. They can help you feel more comfortable and finally get a good night’s rest.