INSIGHTS
health • nutrition • fitness • life • mind “...as one goes through life one learns that if you don’t paddle your own canoe, you don’t move.” ~Katherine Hepburn
CHANGE YOUR LIFE W
hen people feel sad or depressed, they tend to withdraw, which often makes the problem worse. It’s a downward spiral. This has long been known by mental health professionals and has been shown in many studies of adults of all ages. This has probably been the case since the beginning of the human race, even before. In fact, higher primates tend to be emotionally similar to humans. The simple fact is that we are social animals. Nothing perks us up more than human contact with loved ones and friends. It’s hard to be down when you’re with others. With a few exceptions, humans have an intangible warmth and a gift for empathy.
Recognizing isolation can be powerful. If you are feeling isolated or you know someone who is, reaching out can have a profound impact. Human contact has physiological benefits such as lowering heart rate and blood pressure. It releases dopamine and other feel-good chemicals. Mood improves and with it comes increased energy and zest for life. One meeting is just the start. Socializing needs to become a pattern. Once you see someone’s eyes light up, you’ll want to keep it going. Make sure that first meeting becomes two, then three. Invite others in. The world you change will be your own.
Certainly, the pandemic is one of these factors. Social distancing is keeping us apart, even splitting up family members who live in the same community. Others simply can’t travel. Flights have been cancelled or provincial borders are closed.
8 THE ART OF LIVING WELL
© ISTOCK / PIKSEL
Even for those in good physical and mental health, isolation can be triggered by a host of factors. The risks increase with age. Retirement, family and friends moving away, settling into a new living space, or a sudden health setback can result in isolation and the despondency that may go with it.
