Loneliness

Loneliness is a universal human emotion, yet it is both complex and unique to each individual.

Loneliness has no single common cause, so the preventions and treatments for this damaging state of mind vary dramatically. A lonely child who struggles to make friends at his school has different needs that an lonely elderly man whose wife has recently died. In order to understand loneliness, it is important to take a closer look at exactly what we mean by the term "lonely" as well as the various causes, health consequences, symptoms and potential treatments for loneliness.

What Is Loneliness?- While common definitions of loneliness describe it as a state of solitude or being alone, loneliness is actually a state of mind. Loneliness causes people to feel empty, alone and unwanted. People who are lonely often crave human contact, but their state of mind makes it more difficult to form connections with other people.Loneliness, according to many experts, is not necessarily about being alone. Instead, it is the perception of being alone and isolated that matters most. For example, a college freshmen might feel lonely despite being surrounded byroommates and other peers. A soldier beginning his military career might feel lonely after being deployed to a foreign country, despite being constantly surrounded by other people.

What Causes Loneliness?- According to research by John Cacioppo, a University of Chicago psychologist and one of the top loneliness experts,loneliness is strongly connected to genetics. Other contributing factors include situational variables, such as physical isolation, moving to a new location and divorce. The death of someone significant in a person's life can alsolead to feelings of loneliness. Loneliness can also be a symptom of a psychological disorder such as depression.Loneliness can also be attributed to internal factors such as low self-esteem. People who lack confidence in themselves often believe that they are unworthy of the attention or regard of other people. This can lead to isolation and chronic loneliness.

The Health Consequences of Loneliness- Loneliness has a wide range of negative effects on both physical and mental health. Some of the the health risks associated with loneliness include: Depression and suicide, Cardiovascular disease and stroke, Increased stress levels, decreased memory and learning, Antisocial behavior, Poor decision-making, Alcoholism and drug abuse, the progression of Alzheimer's disease, Altered brain function etc. Research has shown that loneliness can impact stress, heart health and immunity. But these are not the only areas inwhich loneliness takes its toll. "Lonely adults consume more alcohol and get less exercise than those who are not lonely," explained John Cacioppo, co-author of the book Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection in an interview with U.S. News and World Report. "Their diet is higher in fat, their sleep is less efficient, and they report more daytime fatigue. Loneliness also disrupts the regulation of cellular processes deep within the body, predisposing us to premature aging."

Researchers have found that low levels of loneliness are associated with marriage, higher income and higher educational status. High levels of loneliness are associated with physical health symptoms, living alone, small socialnetworks and low quality social relationships.

The Symptoms of Loneliness- Researchers also suggest that loneliness is becoming more common in the United States. When polled as part of a 1984 questionnaire, respondents most frequently reported having three close confidants. When the question was asked again in 2004, the most common response was zero confidants. This trend is unfortunate, since experts believe that it is not the quantity of social interaction that combats loneliness, but that it is the quality. Having just three or four close friends is enough to ward off loneliness and reduce the negative health consequences associated with this state of mind.

Loneliness Can Be Contagious- One study by Cacioppo suggests that loneliness may actually be contagious. In a ten-year study, researchers examined how loneliness spreads in social networks. The results indicated that people close to someone experiencing loneliness were 52-percent more likely to become lonely as well.

Treating and Preventing Loneliness- John Cacioppo offers a few tips on how to overcome loneliness.Recognize that loneliness is a sign that something needs to change.Understand the effects that loneliness has on your life, both physically and mentally.Consider doing community service or another activity that you enjoy. These situations present great opportunities to meet people and cultivate new friendships and social interactions.Focus on developing quality relationships with people who share similar attitudes, interests and values with you.Expect the best. Lonely people often expect rejection, so instead focus on positive thoughts and attitudes in your social relationships.

Disaster Management

No country, no state, no place is immune from disaster. It can attack us anytime, anywhere. We can’t escape from it. But we can prevent its negative effects by pre planning. For that there is the provision of ‘Disaster Management’ at country, state, district, city level.

‘Disaster Management’ can be defined as the organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters.

Disasters can be of many types. There are four main types of disasters:

Natural disasters- Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and volcano eruptions are considered under this type. They have immediate impacts on human health and secondary impacts causing death and suffering. i.e. - from floods causing landslides, earthquakes resulting in fires, tsunamis causing widespread flooding and typhoons sinking ferries etc.

Environmental emergencies- Include technological or industrial accidents, usually involving hazardous material and occur where these materials are produced, used or transported. Large forest fires can be included in this definition because they tend to be caused by humans.

Complex emergencies- These emergencies involve a break-down of authority, looting and attacks on strategic installations. Complex emergencies include conflict situations and war.

Pandemic emergencies- These emergencies involve a sudden onset of a contagious disease that affects health and also disrupts services and businesses. They also affect the economic and social costs.

Any disaster can interrupt essential services, like the provision of health care, electricity, water, garbage removal, transportation and communications. The interruption can seriously affect the health, social and economic networks of local communities and countries. Disasters have a big and long-lasting impact on people even after the immediate effect. Poorly planned relief activities can have a significant negative impact on the disaster victims, donors and relief agencies.
Local, regional, national and sometimes even international organisations are all involved in mounting a humanitarian response to disasters. Each has a prepared disaster management plan. These plans cover prevention, preparedness, relief and recovery.

Disaster management includes disaster prevention, disaster preparedness, disaster relief and disaster recovery. Disaster prevention is the activities designed to provide permanent protection from disasters. Not all disasters, particularly natural disasters, can be prevented, but the risk of loss of life and injury can be decreased with good evacuation plans, environmental planning and design standards. ‘The Hyogo Framework’ is currently worldwide accepted plan for the disaster prevention. It offers guiding principles, priorities for action and practical means for achieving disaster resilience for vulnerable communities. Disaster preparedness is designed to minimise loss of life and damage – for example by removing people and property from a threatened location and by facilitating timely and effective rescue, relief and rehabilitation. Preparedness is the main way of reducing the impact of disasters. Community-based preparedness and management should be a high priority in the practice. Disaster relief is a coordinated multi-agency response to reduce the impact of a disaster and its long-term results. Relief activities include rescue, relocation, providing food and water, preventing disease and disability, repairing vital services such as telecommunications and transport, providing temporary shelter and emergency health care. Disaster recovery is one of the most essential parts of the disaster management. Once emergency needs have been met and the initial crisis is over, the people affected and the communities that support them are still under fear. Recovery activities include rebuilding infrastructure, health care and rehabilitation. These should blend with development activities such as building human resources for health and developing policies and practices to avoid similar situations in future.

We can’t prevent the disasters as that thing in almighty God’s hands but by the ‘Disaster Management’, we can surely lessen the horrifying effects of the disasters!