Why loneliness is so stressful

Stress Awareness Month 2024

Bringing people together is the core of all that we do. We all crave connection, no matter what our age - it’s what makes life worth living. For the past 25 years, we’ve supported thousands of older people in our community to one-to-one befriending, regular activities and events, and specalist projects with quality connection at their heart.

Social well-being is essential for overall health and quality of life. We meet older people at a point in their lives where building and maintaining meaningful relationships, nurturing social connections and seeking out positive interactions becomes difficult if not impossible. This could be due to reduced mental health, chronic health conditions, lack of transport or a general sense of loss including the bereavement of a loved family member.

Friendship can act as a buffer against stress, provide a renewed sense of purpose, build resilience, improve cognitive function and combat the serious impact of loneliness.

How connection fights stress

Stress Awareness Month provides a timely opportunity to explore how stress affects our bodies and minds, and how connection serves as a powerful antidote.

Stress is more than just a feeling of being overwhelmed; it's a physical and psychological response to perceived threats. You probably know that your body produces more cortisol when you’re stressed. While cortisol is necessary for managing stress in the short term, prolonged exposure to high levels can have detrimental effects on our health, such as impaired cognitive performance, decreased immune function, and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

It won’t surprise you to know that cortisol levels are lower when we’re able to socialise. Studies show that those who share their woes or issues with a friend feel physical relief after commiserating.

When we aren’t bottling it up and are instead able to express ourselves in a safe space, we become less physically stressed.

#StressAwarenessMonth reminds us of the transformative power of reaching out and connecting with others. Head to our volunteering or befriending pages to see how you can get involved!