Loners

shenmue

(38,537 posts) Tue Mar 6, 2018, 06:16 PM Mar 2018

Why being a loner may be good for your health

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180228-there-are-benefits-to-being-antisocial-or-a-loner

I think this article is crap. Thought I'd post it here because of the title. Some may be interested.

5 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why being a loner may be good for your health (Original Post) shenmue Mar 2018 OP

Interesting article, most creative leaps in art, science, etc. are the result of "deep focus". Cattledog Mar 2018 #1

I don't agree that it's crap. It makes a lot of sense to me. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2018 #2

I know I don't get sick nearly as often as really sociable folk Skittles Mar 2018 #3

Here's the problem with that article.. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2018 #4

The article did make that distinction. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2018 #5

Cattledog

(6,338 posts)

1. Interesting article, most creative leaps in art, science, etc. are the result of "deep focus".

Reply to shenmue (Original post)

Tue Mar 6, 2018, 06:27 PM

Mar 2018

The Velveteen Ocelot

(120,813 posts)

2. I don't agree that it's crap. It makes a lot of sense to me.

Reply to shenmue (Original post)

Tue Mar 6, 2018, 06:36 PM

Mar 2018

Skittles

(159,240 posts)

3. I know I don't get sick nearly as often as really sociable folk

Reply to shenmue (Original post)

Tue Mar 6, 2018, 08:05 PM

Mar 2018

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)

4. Here's the problem with that article..

Reply to shenmue (Original post)

Tue Mar 6, 2018, 10:05 PM

Mar 2018

"loneliness has the same risk level for premature death as diabetes."

Loneliness is not the same as ALONEness.

We have a social construct/value that stresses/values being..well, sociable. That's the belied "norm", and there is little support for being a deep introvert.
As an introvert, I hear all the time well meaning people say things like " you should get out and see more people"
"It's not good to spend so much time by yourself".
" I'd go nuts if I had to spend as much by myself as you do" ( There's a telling comment).

Again, confusing loneliness with just being alone most of the time.

Many studies have been done that show introverts do better when they can BE introverts, and the same for extroverts who can be around others. It's really that simple.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(120,813 posts)

5. The article did make that distinction.

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Reply #4)

Wed Mar 7, 2018, 12:09 AM

Mar 2018

Still, the line between useful solitude and dangerous isolation can be blurry. “Almost anything can be adaptive and maladaptive, depending on how extreme they get,” Feist says. A disorder has to do with dysfunction. If someone stops caring about people and cuts off all contact, this could point to a pathological neglect of social relations. But creative unsociability is a far cry from this.

Being alone can activate a part of the brain that helps our ability to form social bonds. In fact, Feist says, “there’s a real danger with people who are never alone.” It’s hard to be introspective, self-aware, and fully relaxed unless you have occasional solitude. In addition, introverts tend to have fewer but stronger friendships – which has been linked to greater happiness.

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