Men are often lonely and vulnerable, and they suffer in silence. Loneliness in men is best described as a sense of “alienation,” with a person feeling alone even when surrounded by others. Men are subject to feelings of loneliness as they grow older. Loneliness can have a devastating effect on men’s physical and mental health and can influence them to physically harm themselves by committing acts of extreme self-harm, such as suicide.
According to various studies, men are four times more likely than women to commit suicide. Men, as they grow older, are more prone to not being socially connected, unlike women, who are better at cultivating relationships. So, what drives men to get out of touch with reality and become lonely? It’s a relevant topic as it concerns half of humanity.
The tragedy of loneliness
Men struggle in their 30s and 40s to nurture relationships, inevitably making them lonelier
One of the key factors contributing to men being lonely can be attributed to men not being great at cultivating relationships. Younger men are good at socializing; however, men struggle in their 30s and 40s to nurture relationships, inevitably making them lonelier. Objectively, men may seem connected to a lot of people—their friends and family members—but they could still be lonely on the inside. Unmarried men and men not in any relationship are more lonelier, which can have a devastating effect on their mental and physical health. Men are lonely for a variety of reasons, including painful divorces, being oblivious to their surroundings, health crises, being a workaholic or overworking, and so on. These factors prove detrimental to being lonely.
Risks associated with loneliness
Men suffering from loneliness are vulnerable and often abuse their bodies by inflicting harm on them.
To make it straight to the point, loneliness kills! It drives men to suicidal thoughts, and in the worst scenarios, thoughts transition into actions. Men suffering from loneliness are vulnerable and often abuse their bodies by inflicting harm on them. They become ignorant about health and indulge in risky behaviors. Every man must have had suicidal thoughts at some point in his life, but what motivates a man to go to such lengths? It all depends on the person once he mentally goes through the process and becomes trapped in his mindset. When men are unable to escape what their thoughts have led them to, they resort to extreme measures. There are studies documenting that the effects of loneliness on physical health and mortality are even stronger than they are for things like smoking, obesity, or other plainly medical or biologically relevant threats.
Combating Male Loneliness
Male loneliness is kind of a silent epidemic, where a man suffers in silence and inflicts self-harm on himself. There are ways in which men can try to combat loneliness. Men should try to reconnect with old friends and colleagues, whether through social media or by physically visiting them. Rekindling old friendships can make them feel less lonely. Men often relate to people more through physical activity. Men can join new fitness programmes or gyms, which will help them take care of their physique as well as find new connections.
Doing some social work or connecting with a social group can make men more connected to their surroundings and give them a feeling of acknowledgment. Additionally, giving back to society under the direction of commitment can restore self-worth.
In A Nutshell
Male loneliness is a serious problem where men are detached and oblivious of their surroundings. Various studies suggest it is a silent epidemic that is increasing day by day. With attached health risks and extreme steps such as suicide, loneliness is something that needs greater attention. The whole societal notion that men are tough and shouldn’t show any vulnerabilities is also one of the reasons why men don’t speak up about their loneliness. Men should speak up and connect with people on a day-to-day level to avoid getting lonely.