Loneliness And Its Relationship With Insomnia

Although it may not seem relevant to us, the feeling of loneliness is one of the most determining factors when suffering from insomnia, since the individual experiences helplessness and insecurity

Isolated people with little social life may be prone to insomnia.

Social networks and the internet have created the right conditions for individuals to have less close contact with the rest of their relatives.

Added to this, realities such as migration and bullying motivate us to remain entrenched in our own space, controlled but lonely.

This predisposition to isolation can bring some drawbacks and perhaps the most notorious is the difficulty in enjoying a good night’s sleep.

More than 25% felt lonely and did not sleep well

When a group of researchers from King’s College (United Kingdom) carried out their test on sleep habits, one could expect the establishment of a link between insomnia and various factors that affect our lifestyle. This was not the case.

In fact, in this research elements such as employment status, childbearing, alcohol consumption and even genetic disposition were studied.

In the end, none of them was directly related to the difficulty of sleeping, except for one: the feeling of loneliness.

For sure, it was shown that people who feel lonely have a 25% chance of suffering from this uncomfortable disorder.

Most worryingly, the insomnia study was conducted only with young people, whose age ranged from 18 to 19 years old.

Victims and insomnia

The trend was even more marked in those people who reported having suffered some abuse or violence during childhood.

Abuse, rape and bullying are triggers for isolation which, in turn, affects the victims’ good sleep.

All this invites us to reflect on the influence that trauma has on the individual’s hours of rest. Being abused involves stress, confusion, anxiety and a series of important psychological alterations.

However, this is not the only conclusive research on the matter.

The trend is repeated in adults

In 2011, another group of scientists conducted a similar investigation in rural South Dakota (United States). On that occasion, the study focused on 95 adults who, although not completely isolated, reported feeling “alone”.

The research could not find a specific link between loneliness and lack of sleepiness.

However, most of the interviewees suffered from a phenomenon called fragmented sleep, which is the constant interruption of night rest.

In any case, both studies reached a similar conclusion: The perception of loneliness generates insomnia and is negative for human health.

Anthropological hypothesis

The researchers of the first study believe that this relationship in insomnia is due to an evolutionary response of the human being.

From this perspective, loneliness in the human psyche translates into insecurity and helplessness for the individuals who experience it.

• By having the perception of isolation, it is possible for the brain to automate for prevention, fight and escape.

This would explain the need for those affected to constantly get up at night.

• In short, we would be in the presence of a preservation mechanism that is activated when we feel lonely.
• This would be especially important for newly independent youth and migrants.

Learn to be independent

The result of both studies confirms the significance of learning independence for human development.

Preparing from youth will facilitate the change of environment during adulthood and parents play a crucial role in all this.

How can we help young people to be more independent? Each parent will have their own method, but the important thing is to place them in controlled situations where they must take care of themselves.

On the other hand, the feeling of being accompanied could be key in the stability of newly independent children.

Calling or having a chat conversation on social networks could help the emotional stabilization of those affected.

It is also recommended that parents plan visits for the weekend. In this way, they will contribute to the emotional stability of the lonely, renewing their confidence and reminding them that they are not so alone.

How to combat loneliness and insomnia

Paradoxically, the age of communication is perhaps one of humanity’s loneliest historical periods.

Everything that brings us closer in social terms will have to be rescued, for our physical and emotional well-being.

Victims of abuse, migrants, widowers, the elderly and young people who have become independent are the subjects most vulnerable to isolation.