Loneliness: The Other Pandemic

Published: Sept. 19, 2021, 4 p.m.

b'This week Kevin and Niseema talk about the other pandemic happening during Covid: Loneliness. How do you react when you hear the words, "I am lonely?" How do you feel when you feel that you are lonely? How hard is it for you to tell somebody, "I am lonely?" "Lonely" has become a dirty word in the English language. We are not allowed to say the words, "I am lonely." Why is that? \\n\\nLoneliness is almost as pervasive as Covid-19. In the 1970s, 11% of Americans reported feeling lonely within the last 6 months. Pre-pandemic over 40% reported feeling lonely within the last 6 months. We don\'t have the current statistics on loneliness, but we expect it to be well over 70%. Yet, we still can\'t talk about it. Why is that?\\n\\nWhat is the one thing you would have to face for you to talk about your loneliness? What is the one thing you would have to give up to end your loneliness? Ending your loneliness can be as easy as telling somebody about it. In the second half of the show, Kevin and Niseema do an exercise that makes talking about loneliness as routine as talking about the weather. Since we all have it, we might as well start sharing it with each other.'