400 Friends and No One to Call: Breaking through Isolation and Building Community

The author has been involved with isolated and disadvantaged communities on a professional level She has worked as a rehabilitation counselor for twenty-four years and has first-hand experience guiding people out of isolation and building social support. Loneliness is a health epidemic in the United States. In 2018, health insurer Cigna took a nationwide survey of 20,000 adults and found that 54% of respondents said they feel like no one actually knows them well. Additionally, 56% of people said the people they surround themselves around “are not necessarily with them,” and approximately 40% said they “lack companionship,” their “relationships aren’t meaningful,” and that they feel “isolated from others.” If you’ve ever felt lonely, know that you’re not alone. According to a study from the British Red Cross, over nine million adults in the UK feel the same way—that’s about 1/5 of the country’s population. Loneliness is increasingly being considered a hazard to human health comparable to obesity and smoking. Examines the various causes of isolation (e.g., grief, illness, disability, socioeconomic, age) and how it can cause stress, anxiety, stigma, and a self-perpetuating cycle of “aloneness.” Also looks at how social media has changed the way we interact with others. Presents a number of self-assessment tools that “grade” stages of isolation. Offers techniques to build/rebuild relationships, support groups, networks, and “safety nets,” especially self-care. Includes profiles of individuals who faced isolating times and how they were able to overcome their isolation and reach out to others. The writing is warm, inviting, and engaging.

© 2020 Central Recovery Press (E-bok): 9781949481259

Utgivningsdatum

E-bok: 10 mars 2020