As If Being Lonely Weren't Bad Enough On Its Own

Scientists have apparently now decided that being lonely can kill you. Slate had an article today titled, "Loneliness Can Kill You" (or "Loneliness is Deadly," depending on which page you were on), and it was just chock full of happy factoids. For example:

Studies have shown the increased mortality due to social isolation is equal to that of smoking, and twice that of obesity.

Social isolation impairs immune function and boosts inflammation which can lead to arthritis, diabetes and heart disease.

Feelings of loneliness can lead to "social evasion" which, of course, leads to further isolation.

Loneliness can interrupt sleep patterns as the lonely are prone to "micro-awakenings" -- i.e., lacking the safety of a tribe, they're continually on alert. 

Can I just say that I needed to read all this like I needed a hole in the head?*

On the other hand, it might actually explain a lot. As someone who once had a psychologist administering a Myers-Briggs assessment tell me they'd never seen anyone score higher on the introvert scale, "lonely" is pretty much my standard state. 

So maybe the cancer (not to mention the diabetes) is rooted not in my horrible diet, complete lack of exercise, consumption of alcohol, or any of the other causes that are sometimes thrown my way, but in the genes that created my personality.

And if my genes made my personality and my personality caused my cancer that means the cancer is all my parents' fault! 

Woohoo! I'm off the hook (except, of course, for the part about dying of cancer). 

I feel much better already. 


** It could be worse. Sib4 received a copy of Missoula, Jon Krakauer's new book about rape on college campuses organized around events at the University of Montana, six months before the niece departs for her freshman year at -- where else? -- the University of Montana.