Gupta, Sanjay. "Why You Should Treat Loneliness as a Chronic Illness." EverydayHealth.com. N.p., 04 Aug. 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.
Dr. Gupta’s article explains how loneliness should be treated as a chronic illness through scientific research. Animal studies have shown that social isolation alters levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that determines impulsive behavior. Dopamine is also what makes humans happy. There is nothing unusual about feeling lonely, but complete isolation from social interaction is very damaging. Humans are social beings and we consciously and subconsciously long for social connections. Gupta’s article covers the negative effects of social isolation and the importance of social interactions.
In Dr. Gupta’s article he cites a therapist who says that loneliness “promotes secrecy and distrust”. When you isolate yourself from people around you it is difficult to trust others because you are caught up in your own thoughts and anxious tendencies. People tend to deny their loneliness and in this case it only continues to get worse. In order to fix loneliness it is necessary to carefully reconnect with the world and slowly rebuild social connections.
McCanless set out with the notion that he could live alone in the wild without the need for others in his life. He denied his loneliness and refused to accept the fact that he needed other people in his life. This was caused by his frustration with the people around him, from his family to his peers. When McCanless finally accepted the fact that he was lonely and needed people in his life, that he needed social interaction, he tried to re-enter the world, but unfortunately he died trying to come back to the real world.
Gupta, Sanjay. "Why You Should Treat Loneliness as a Chronic Illness." EverydayHealth.com. N.p., 04 Aug. 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.
Dr. Gupta’s article explains how loneliness should be treated as a chronic illness through scientific research. Animal studies have shown that social isolation alters levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that determines impulsive behavior. Dopamine is also what makes humans happy. There is nothing unusual about feeling lonely, but complete isolation from social interaction is very damaging. Humans are social beings and we consciously and subconsciously long for social connections. Gupta’s article covers the negative effects of social isolation and the importance of social interactions.
In Dr. Gupta’s article he cites a therapist who says that loneliness “promotes secrecy and distrust”. When you isolate yourself from people around you it is difficult to trust others because you are caught up in your own thoughts and anxious tendencies. People tend to deny their loneliness and in this case it only continues to get worse. In order to fix loneliness it is necessary to carefully reconnect with the world and slowly rebuild social connections.
McCanless set out with the notion that he could live alone in the wild without the need for others in his life. He denied his loneliness and refused to accept the fact that he needed other people in his life. This was caused by his frustration with the people around him, from his family to his peers. When McCanless finally accepted the fact that he was lonely and needed people in his life, that he needed social interaction, he tried to re-enter the world, but unfortunately he died trying to come back to the real world.