LONELINESS HURTS

FWR Says:  Loneliness is bad for our health and wellness

Loneliness is a growing condition in our society. Marriage breakup continues at a fast pace. More and more seniors live longer and face life alone. Single parent families now have set a pattern.

Why is loneliness lethal? Because, we are social beings who require company, friends we can count on and relatives who are close. Loneliness brings on fears and anxieties about ourselves and our future.

A recent study verifies this. Japanese immigrants to California were studied for their health and well-being. These people arrived in America with Japanese conditions of lifestyle. For instance, their rates of heart and stroke disease were 20% lower than Californian rates.

Those who immersed themselves in the Californian culture adopted U.S. health rates. The clan members that maintained their Japanese life-style and culture, their heart and stroke rates remained 20% below Californian rates.

It is not difficult to understand this. Clan members remained in touch with dear friends and relatives. That meant normal group and individual help and support. Loneliness could hardly exist there. This other group were at the mercy of the diverse and ever changing culture.

The moral of this story is that our parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and dear friends are essential to our wellness.

FWR Says:  The wellness of family and its members depends on our clan