Recent radio campaigns suggest that your friend with Bipolar, Major Depression, Panic Attacks that keep them isolated are less likely to recover or function well without your friendship. Well guess what. It’s worse than that. People in your life are more likely to do poorly healthwise if they feel lonely often and/or are measurably isolated, i.e. few contact with people per week. A new study in the recent issue of Health Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association, demonstrated that those who feel lonely and are isolated are more likely to engage in many poor health behaviors such as being inactive, smoking, not eating well, as well as other unhealthy behaviors. However, it’s the clearly demonstrable fact a few social contacts that correlates most highly with physical measures that are highly associated with stroke and heart attack which include high blood pressure,C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen. In short the study showed perceiving you’re lonely is associated with unhealthy behavior but actually being lonely is connected to the worst outcomes.
Other studies, that I remember the results to but don’t have the citation for right now, show that even after a heart attack or a heart procedure if you are isolated and depressed you have 4 to 5 times the chance of being dead inside of five years if you were depression goes untreated and you don’t do something about decreasing your social isolation. So “the take-home message” as my statistics professor used to always say is spend time with people for your own health, and to show consideration for others who you know are isolated spend time with them. Even if they have no other disorder the time you spend with them is good for your health and for theirs. This study also implies why your friend with bipolar disorder is not only more likely to do better in their fight against bipolar disorder if you spend time with them and support them, but they’re also less likely to get other complicating health disorders that are common in those with serious mental illness.
I see an example almost every day of what we could all do more of. I look up to him not just because he is a giant of a man but because he walks down my street every day with a limp arm on one side, likely from a stroke, and is always raising the other arm waving at every person whom he goes by whether they’re walking, in a car, or on a bike. If I woke up in a bad mood and he waved at me I’m in a better mood than had he not. I’m thankful for this man who lives on my street. It may be that you need to be that person on your street who waves at everyone who goes by. If not call one more person a week than you do. Stop by a friend’s place for a brief visit just to say hi. Remember, it’s not just good for them, but in the long run you may be preventing a trip to the emergency room for a heart attack by you or another person.
Have a wonderful day and here is my wave to you!
Dr. Joseph McCoy
If you have a hard time relaxing or being friendly, you may need to learn some simple skills on how to decrease your stress and anxiety. Go to VPSproductions.com for the lowest price on the Internet for professionally guided relaxation skills. There’s also help there for assistance with chronic pain.