New Delhi, Feb 21:
How many of us will agree that life in a metro, at times, becomes synonymous with loneliness?
Amidst hectic work schedules and high-pressure jobs, professionals often tend to ignore their social life and end up being depressed and lonely.
Believe it or not, in today’s times, loneliness has been tagged as a silent killer, which is stalking the lives of many working professionals.
Loneliness is spreading like a plague among working professionals in the city. And if you go by a recent research conducted by US-based psychologist John Cacioppo, many would be shocked to know that loneliness is as bad for your body as smoking and obesity.
Meet Mary Khuvung, a 30-year-old professional working for Amnesty International India. Mary came to Delhi 14 years ago, and has been a Delhiite ever since. Initially she didn’t realise it, but her constantly deteriorating health compelled her to visit a physician, and then she came to know that loneliness had taken its toll on her.
"For a couple of years I have been facing problems such as insomnia and high blood pressure, and it was my physician who informed me that more than any medical help, all I need is some friends and a socially active life," she quips.
The research conducted by John made it official that loneliness can make it hard to sleep and even speed up the progression of dementia. He explained the process in his research stating that loneliness raises levels of the hormone cortisol and can push blood pressure up into the danger zone, making the patient vulnerable to heart attacks and strokes. But, at a time when thousands of young professionals are moving everyday to metros in search of jobs, how can one help them from forming a giant pool of loneliness?
Experts opine that the worst part about being lonely is that it breeds depression, which today has become the most popular disease among professionals. "People are not aware of loneliness as a disease. Actually people don’t even think loneliness and depression are disorders. Isolation from friends and peers often leads to sadness, loss of appetite, and if anyone is facing such problems, it is advisable to visit a psychiatrist as soon as possible," opines Samir Parikh, chief of department of mental health, Max Healthcare.
http://www.zeenews.com/newspapers/2009-02-21/509499news.html
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment