Latest news with #socialisolation
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
13 Reasons You've Always Felt Lonely In Life
Loneliness can be crushing. It creeps up on you in the quiet moments when you're convinced the world is turning without you. You've scoured the internet for answers, searched your soul for understanding, yet the feeling remains. Maybe it's time to confront what you've always felt but never quite articulated. This is your moment of clarity. Your intelligence is a double-edged sword, making it hard to relate to people who don't think as quickly or as deeply as you do. According to a study published in the British Journal of Psychology, higher intelligence often correlates with lower life satisfaction, partly due to social isolation. While your brain craves complex conversations, you often find yourself stuck in small talk purgatory, longing for a deeper connection. Yet when you finally find someone who can match your intellectual stride, you might scare them off with your intense need for philosophical sparring. This results in a vicious cycle: the smarter you are, the harder it is to find someone who gets you. You retreat into books and podcasts, hoping one day someone will see through to the person you really are. Until then, it's just you and your thoughts, a lonely duo. Blame it on your upbringing. Maybe your parents were emotionally distant or maybe you just never saw vulnerability modeled in a healthy way. So you've become a master of the controlled façade. Sure, you're "open" on social media, but how deep does that openness really go? You build walls, not bridges, with your perfect Instagram feed. Feeling vulnerable feels synonymous with being weak, so you avoid it like the plague. Meanwhile, your heart's a fortress, and sometimes even you don't have the key. It's lonely inside your castle, even if it's adorned with the finest illusions of happiness. Your ambition is admirable, but there's a cost to being married to your job. You've got the accolades and the promotions, but when it comes to personal relationships, you're running on fumes. According to a report by the American Psychological Association, workaholics are more likely to experience loneliness due to neglecting social connections. When you're always hustling, friendships become collateral damage. And let's not even get started on romantic relationships. They're hard enough without you prioritizing every email over date night. You tell yourself you'll get to it one day, but days turn into months, and months into years. Suddenly, you realize your work achievements can't keep you warm at night. You're loyal to a fault, sticking around even when it's clear the friendship has soured. Maybe it's because you think you can fix it, or maybe you're afraid of what the void will feel like if you let go. Either way, these friendships are an anchor, dragging you down into isolation. You might be surrounded by people, but it still feels like you're an island. It's not just the gossip or the letdowns that sting; it's the endless cycle of hope and disappointment. You keep giving them chances, only to end up hurt all over again. The worst part? You question your worth, allowing their behavior to dictate how you see yourself. Breaking free feels terrifying, but holding on means continuing to swim in a sea of loneliness. For you, the fear of being rejected is paralyzing. It's easier to keep people at arm's length than risk the sting of being unwanted. According to psychologist Dr. Guy Winch, fear of rejection can activate the same pathways in the brain as physical pain, making it a potent barrier to forming connections. You meticulously curate your persona, making sure no one can find flaws, because flaws mean vulnerability and vulnerability means potential rejection. But in safeguarding your heart, you shut it off from genuine connection. The irony is that by trying to protect yourself, you only end up more isolated. It's a lonely fortress you've built, but at least it's safe, right? Scrolling through feeds has become your substitute for meaningful interaction. It's got all the allure of connection without any real substance. You know the highlights and lowlights of everyone's life, yet the details of your own remain murky and undefined. The irony is that while you're never really alone, you're also never truly with anyone. You crave the likes, the validation, even though each hit is more ephemeral than the last. Yet, logging off feels like stepping into a void. Your social media presence becomes a double life that you can't escape. It's a carefully curated reality that, once the screen goes dark, leaves you more alone than ever. The ghosts of relationships and regrets linger in your mind like an indelible ink stain. Maybe it was the "one that got away" or a friendship that ended in flames. Research from the University of Southampton shows that dwelling on past relationships can intensify feelings of loneliness. It's hard to move forward when you're anchored to what could have been. Every new friendship or relationship is tainted by the comparisons you can't help but make. You hold them to standards set by people who are long gone, and unsurprisingly, they always fall short. The past is a siren song you can't resist, even though you know it'll lead you to the rocky shores of isolation. Until you learn to let go, you're forever trapped in a cycle of loneliness. Most people are like Teflon, letting life's minor slights roll off them. But you're not most people. Every offhand comment, every side-eye glance, it all sticks and stays, weighing you down like lead. You absorb emotions like a sponge, and unfortunately, that includes loneliness too. This sensitivity makes you compassionate, sure, but it also makes you vulnerable. You tiptoe through life, trying to avoid the sharp edges and harsh realities. This self-protective cocoon only isolates you further. You long for connection but fear the inevitable heartache that comes with it. Some wounds never heal; they just scab over until something rips them open again. The pain is so familiar it's almost comforting, except for the isolating fact that no one else seems to understand it. You hide it well—only allowing yourself to break down in private. On the outside, you're the epitome of composure; on the inside, you're a tangled mess. It's hard to let people in when you're still haunted by the specters of your past. You tell yourself it's better this way, that you're protecting them from your darkness. But the truth is, you're protecting yourself from vulnerability. Yet, each layer of protection is another layer of loneliness. Independence is your badge of honor. You pride yourself on being self-sufficient, needing no one. This fierce independence is empowering, but it also leaves you alone in your own world. You're so used to doing everything solo that the idea of relying on someone else feels like a foreign language. Being fiercely independent means you often forget to invite others in. You navigate life like a lone wolf, forgetting that even wolves have a pack. The strength you draw from being independent is undermined by the isolation it brings. It's a lonely kind of freedom, but it's one you're not quite ready to give up. When it comes to relationships, your expectations are through the roof. You want perfection, crafted in the image of your own impossibly curated ideals. But real people are flawed, messy, complicated beings. Searching for that unattainable perfection leaves you alone, a princess in an ivory tower with no prince or princess in sight. You tell yourself you're just holding out for the right person, but deep down, you know you're sabotaging your own happiness. Yes, standards are important, but are they worth the loneliness they bring? It's a hard pill to swallow, realizing that maybe you're asking for more than anyone can ever give. Until you lower those standards, you'll remain in splendid isolation. You never quite fit in, did you? Always the outsider looking in, you feel like a puzzle piece that doesn't belong. Whether it's your family, a friend group, or society at large, you're always the odd one out. You've come to wear it like a badge of honor, but it's isolating in its uniqueness. Being the black sheep means you often walk your own path, but you do so alone. The world feels like it's speaking a different language, one you've never managed to learn. Despite your bravado, the loneliness of your outsider status occasionally sneaks up, reminding you of the connections you're missing. It's a lonely road, but it's the only one you know. You know they're out there—people who get you, who love you for exactly who you are. But finding them is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Until then, you wander through life feeling like an alien on your own planet. You strive to connect but never quite synch up with the world around you. The quest for your tribe is relentless, filled with trial and error. Each failed connection makes you retreat further into your shell, convinced the search is hopeless. But deep down, you hold onto the hope that one day you'll find your people. Until then, you continue to navigate this lonely journey, waiting for the day you finally belong.
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
Older people stereotyped as rich and grumpy in ‘offensive' adverts, watchdog says
Elderly people are too often stereotyped as grumpy, wealthy or forgetful in offensive and harmful adverts, a watchdog has warned. In new research carried out by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), a third of respondents thought older people tended to be negatively portrayed in adverts. The survey of 4,000 people also found older people were being 'bombarded' by campaigns for funeral services, care homes and mobility aids. Depictions of the elderly as lacking purpose, frail, isolated and showing ageing as something to be fought were viewed as the most likely to cause harm, the survey found – given their potential to reinforce fears about growing older and social isolation. Adverts making jokes at the expense of older people, and those depicting them as forgetful or unable to understand technology, were seen to be among the most likely to cause offence, or else to be irritating to viewers. The ASA's report said older people were not only living longer but also continuing to lead full, active lives, contributing to workplaces, families, communities and the economy for longer. However, many of those surveyed said that advertising too often painted a 'very different and outdated picture', while the watchdog said its finding suggested the advertising industry may be 'out of touch' with the reality of ageing. Instead, the public wanted advertising to focus on individuals rather than their age, and portray a diverse range of later-life experiences. One advert highlighted by the watchdog as 'a good example of the subjectivity of humour and its link to offence' was a TV ad for Strathmore Foods, in which an elderly man is proudly cleaning his car only for it to be hit by a muddy football. The man is seen to lose his temper with a child who shouts: 'Oi grandad, give us my ball back', before the screen cuts to him contentedly tucking into a McIntosh of Strathmore ready meal, with the punctured football placed next to him on the table with a knife sticking out of it. Describing the award-winning advert as 'polarising', the watchdog said: 'Several [focus group] participants enjoyed the humorous tone taken in the ad. Not only did it go some way to show older people still have a sense of humour, but also that older people still have 'spirit' or 'feistiness' that is not usually shown in ads. 'However, others felt the humorous tone and portrayal could cause offence as it reinforced stereotypes of older people as grumpy and intolerant of younger generations. The focus on the older man living alone and eating a ready meal, was also felt to imply that all older people are lonely and isolated. 'There were other, underlying concerns about the themes in the ad including intergenerational conflict, knife crime and vindictiveness.' Another advert viewed as potentially harmful by focus groups was a LinkedIn ad in which a woman is interviewed about what her son does for work, saying: 'He says he sells clouds, he works in a cloud company and sells clouds to other companies that want clouds ... He says they're invisible. Maybe I shouldn't have let him play so many video games.' A voiceover then says: 'Parents don't get B2B. LinkedIn does.' The watchdog said the focus on the woman in the advert was 'entirely on her age' and felt 'demeaning with potential to impact an older person's confidence and societal views toward older peoples' ability to use tech'. While the focus group participants acknowledged that extremes seen in adverts could be representative of the lives of some older people, these portrayals were not considered accurate reflections of the lives of most older people, the watchdog said. Other extreme depictions highlighted by focus groups were adverts showing older people as: either physically inactive or taking part in extreme sports; either universally poor or universally wealthy; or, for women, either 'frumpy and unfashionable' or 'airbrushed and 'youthful' looking'. The ASA said: 'When ads show older people as vibrant, capable and real, they help rewrite the story of ageing and how we perceive older generations. 'Not only this, but older people represent a significant market with substantial spending power, making them a vital audience for brands that want to stay relevant. 'While we're not currently proposing any new rules, we're hoping that by sharing this research, advertisers will understand how some portrayals of older people are landing with the public today – and where there may be unintended consequences.'
National Post
2 days ago
- Business
- National Post
More than half of newcomers to Canada cite financial stress as their primary well-being challenge
Article content Article content New data from Securian Canada shows many newcomers lack adequate insurance coverage, leaving them financially vulnerable Article content Article content TORONTO — A new research report, Newcomers' Realities: Securian Canada Insights, reveals that newcomers to Canada ('newcomers') are feeling financially stressed and socially isolated. According to the survey, conducted in collaboration with the Angus Reid Group, more than half (54%) of newcomers in Canada cite financial stress as their main health/well-being challenge since coming to Canada. Another one-quarter (26%) experience social isolation. Article content 'Canada's newcomer mosaic represents a diverse group, and most arrive highly educated and ready to contribute to the workforce,' said Nigel Branker, CEO of Securian Canada. 'However, despite this foundation, many still face challenges with financial security and social connections when they arrive to Canada that can persist over time.' Article content According to the data, nearly three-quarters (74%) of newcomers have a university education or higher, and three-quarters (75%) of newcomers are employed, mostly in full-time roles (56%). Meanwhile, only 13 per cent of newcomers to Canada are students. Article content Enduring challenges Article content Notably, financial stress and social isolation are not just short-term stressors associated with moving to a new country but can also be a chronic challenge newcomers grapple with while building their lives in Canada. In fact, financial stress levels are similar regardless of how long newcomers have been in the country: 53 per cent of newcomers in Canada for two years or less say that this is their biggest challenge and 54 per cent of those in Canada for three to five years also say this is their biggest challenge. Article content Similarly, 27 per cent of newcomers in Canada for two years or less report experiencing social isolation and this drops only a negligible one per cent (26%) for those who have been in Canada for three to five years. Article content Financial stress may be connected, in part, to confidence in performing regular financial activities, which varies across tasks: 82 per cent of newcomers feel confident navigating day-to-day personal banking, 70 per cent of respondents feel confident navigating international money transfers, yet only half (49%) of newcomers feel confident navigating insurance. Article content Seeking financial guidance, navigating the insurance landscape Article content As newcomers navigate new lives, systems and social norms in Canada, the presence of a supportive community is critical to building financial confidence and security. Article content Despite more than half (53%) of newcomers sharing financial decision-making with someone else, more than one-quarter (29%) of newcomers say they do not know where to go for reliable information and one-third (33%) say it is difficult or expensive to get professional advice. Further, worrying about being misled is the most cited challenge newcomers face as they navigate the Canadian insurance landscape (42%). Article content These challenges might help explain the insurance gap among newcomers. When asked if they have certain types of insurance, such as life, health and dental, critical illness or disability, one-in-five (20%) newcomers said they do not have any form of insurance coverage, and 60 per cent are underinsured. Notably, financial stress is highest among this group: 58 per cent of underinsured newcomers report financial stress, compared to 48 per cent among those who are insured. Article content Hybrid support models are essential Article content Newcomers rely on personal connections to guide early financial decisions. When asked for their top three sources for information on insurance, more than half (52%) of newcomers say they would speak to friends and family in Canada, 40 per cent say they would speak to a financial advisor, and nearly one-fifth (18%) say they would speak to friends and family in their home country. Article content Digital tools also play a critical role in enabling access and ease of use. When asked about insurance purchasing preferences, 53 per cent of newcomers prefer to buy online (via a website or mobile app) and 66 per cent of newcomers prefer digital-first solutions to make insurance management (e.g., online claims) easier in the future. Article content 'Starting a new life in Canada comes with many exciting opportunities and challenges,' added Branker. 'Our research underscores the need for hybrid models that blend professional support with accessible digital platforms, empowering newcomers to make confident, informed decisions about their financial futures.' Article content Securian Canada is committed to supporting the financial futures of newcomers and their families through innovative, digital-first insurance solutions and coverage that fits diverse needs. Read the full report here. Article content These findings are based on a survey conducted by Securian Canada in partnership with Angus Reid Group from February 3, 2025, to March 10, 2025. The study surveyed a total of 1,589 newcomers who were randomly picked in the online survey that was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would have a margin of error of +/-5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Article content About Securian Canada Article content We're here for all Canadians and their families – however they define family – because everything we do helps build secure tomorrows. Our practical, life-ready insurance and protection solutions are designed to help provide financial security, so that Canadians can spend more time making every moment count. Article content Securian Canada is a leading insurance provider with more than 65 years of experience innovating in the Canadian financial institution and association and affinity markets. We offer insurance solutions built with genuine care – providing specialized experiences to those we serve. Securian Canada operates as an independent subsidiary of Securian Financial Group, Inc. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Securian Canada media contact Article content Article content Article content Article content
Harvard Business Review
2 days ago
- General
- Harvard Business Review
Hybrid work
Evidence suggests that it's hurting collaboration, exacerbating social isolation, and weakening culture. Here's how to fix it.
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Japan Times
Japan needs to rethink how it helps hikikomori
Over 1 million people live in social isolation in Japan today, cut off from work, school and even family: 1.46 million people to be precise, or 2% of those aged 15 to 62, according to a 2023 Cabinet Office survey. While hikikomori, the Japanese term for acute social withdrawal, often brings to mind young recluses in dark bedrooms, the reality is broader — and made even more urgent by the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on mental health, which we are still feeling today. A significant proportion of hikikomori are in their 30s, 40s and even 50s, and their numbers are growing. Some of these middle-aged adults have been isolated for a decade or more, in part due to the progressive decline of Japan's lifetime employment model. Many want to work, connect and rejoin society, but don't know how to. If we are serious about addressing the dual crises of a shrinking population and social withdrawal, we must stop blaming individuals and start building sustainable, community-led support systems — especially for 'invisible' hikikomori who have left the school system or are too old to be eligible for youth support services. Instead of short-term interventions or bureaucratic responses, we need trust-based, human-centered solutions that continue over time. At the moment, traditional frameworks are often failing. If a hikikomori doesn't respond after one or two visits, most services just stop knocking. Hospital care is too rigid, schools emphasize conformity over recovery and most government interventions are short-term or reactive. For example, despite a recent expansion of the age eligibility for certain types of job support, most of these are short-term or one-time programs, not the kind of long-term interventions needed for hikikomori to rebuild confidence and reconnect with society. The level of concern in Japan is high, but the country's support systems remain fragmented. These often rely on volunteer labor and vanish when funding ends, and families are left to cope alone. Older hikikomori are almost entirely overlooked — especially men in their 40s and 50s, who have dropped out of society and feel ashamed and fear judgment if they try to return. Although hikikomori are frequently perceived as being mostly male, this is not the case. Women also experience social withdrawal, but they are often less visible: Social expectations can make it easier for them to blend into family life while still feeling isolated, leading to their struggles being ignored. In my experience, the emotional burden they carry is just as heavy and past traumas can feel as fresh as if they happened yesterday, and building trust with female hikikomori requires more time and patience. Worryingly, social disconnection is also being seen in increasingly younger people. Teachers and parents report that even secondary school students are showing signs of disengagement, withdrawing from daily routines and retreating from social interactions. Japan faces a growing crisis of social isolation, with over 1.4 million people — many middle-aged — living reclusive lifestyles, and experts say only long-term, trust-based community support can reverse the trend. | Getty Images This trend is closely linked to youth suicide, which remains a pressing issue in Japan: In 2023, 513 elementary, junior high and high school students took their own lives, according to the health ministry. The stress of academic pressure, social expectations and bullying can push vulnerable young people into isolation, where hopelessness takes root. Addressing this is not just an act of compassion — it is critical to prevent long-term social exclusion and, ultimately, save lives. Many hikikomori are told by those around them to 'just get a job' or 'go to the ward office.' But healing from years of silence, trauma and isolation takes more than a job referral. It takes a relationship. Yet budgets rarely reflect this need. Funding flows to academic studies or flashy pilot projects, not to long-term, grassroots efforts that patiently walk beside each person. In 2019, I founded Quietude, a social enterprise supporting hikikomori, NEETs — which stands for 'not in education, employment or training' — and school dropouts. Our approach is based on building long-term relationships rather than relying on temporary interventions. Trust doesn't come easily — from our work, we have seen that it takes at least 20 hours of consistent interaction before individuals start to open up. Plus, we focus on offering multiple approaches that accommodate different needs rather than customizing programs for every individual. This helps strike a balance between meeting people's specific needs and encouraging them to learn flexibility and adaptation, practicing being part of a group and being given some structure. One common challenge is helping hikikomori understand their distorted perceptions, such as their tendency to generalize negative feedback by believing that everyone thinks a certain way about them. Addressing these misconceptions helps people develop a more balanced and realistic view of themselves and others. We work on rebuilding confidence and teaching practical social skills while addressing the emotional pain that has led to isolation in the first place. We have learned that no one is too far gone. With time, trust and care, healing is possible, even after years of silence. Tackling the hikikomori issue is a strategic investment that ensures social stability and economic recovery. Families who have a hikikomori member often struggle with financial hardship, although this doesn't just affect finances; it seeps into relationships, creating an environment of mistrust, frustration, helplessness and, in some cases, violence. This strain can even extend into the wider community, leading to hurt, crime or suicide. On a societal scale, Japan cannot afford to lose another generation to disconnection. Every person who re-engages with society contributes not only emotionally, but economically. Helping even one long-term NEET rejoin the workforce can lead to an estimated injection of ¥150 million ($1 million) into the system over their lifetime, which includes both the taxes they will pay and the reduction in welfare costs, according to health ministry data. Reintegration is more than just about providing help. It is about actively preventing poverty, social decline and harm — strengthening the individual while rebuilding family and community life through a positive cycle of recovery and participation. The question Japan faces is not why hikikomori aren't trying harder, but why our systems give up on people so easily. To build a healthier society, we must move from stigma to support. From isolation to quiet belonging. If we rethink how to tackle social withdrawal, we can do more than help individuals. We can create sustainable, community-rooted models that prevent isolation from happening in the first place. But to take action, we must not wait for another crisis to unfold. Chaa Chaa Ogino is the CEO of Quietude Japan, a grassroots social enterprise supporting hikikomori, NEETs and school dropouts, and a member of the Ueda City Board of Education. For nearly 20 years, she has supported hikikomori, NEETs and at-risk youth across Japan through hands-on, direct reintegration programs.
