Kyle PearceEnglish journalist and best-selling author of Lost Connections and Stolen Focus Johann Hari talks about the underlying causes of addiction and why believes that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it’s the connection and social bonding.
A recent survey suggests that 40% of adults in the United States say they are lonely and have a hard time talking about it. While these numbers spiked during the isolation of pandemic, newer studies are finding that loneliness is continues to be a growing problem.
This should be a bigger topic of discussion in the media and in politics. How do we create a 21st century society that actually provides for people’s emotional needs and the human need for connection and community.
John Cacioppo, the author of Loneliness, Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection notes that “Social isolation has an impact on health comparable to the effects of high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity or smoking.”
Loneliness not only breaks down the individuals mental health but it also leads to the decline of democratic societies that rely on trust and community to function.
Learn more about why the opposite of addiction is connection in this thought-provoking TED Talks by Johann Hari.