Millennials and Loneliness
There has been much in the press lately about millennials and loneliness. There have even been calls to open up youth clubs because the millennial generation is considered one of the loneliest generations and unlike others are willing to admit to their feelings on the subject.
I admit that in my practice, I see this regularly. Young men and women, who in addition to the other issues which brings them to see me, feel a sense of loneliness and despair. They are young, free and single, but also alone. In times past, perhaps it was a bit easier for people to meet and to socialise. However, with work being such a pillar of life and with people moving further and further away from their social networks, it seems that this generation is really struggling with the basics of human interaction.
As I have previously written, the advent of social media has been a blessing and curse in this arena. The reason for this is that many people are opting for virtual friendships and relationships over the reality of human contact which we all need so desperately. A balance between the virtual and reality is essential but I would hope that we begin to start favouring the reality over the virtual. We all need people around us at times and I hope that we can all find a way to meet who we need to, as loneliness is such an awful fate for socialised creatures like ourselves.
