PSYCHOLOGY
How to Survive the Male Loneliness Epidemic
No man is an island.
We need others to survive and make our lives meaningful. We are at our best when we’re part of a community, and since humans are inherently social, we are often defined by the bonds we form.
To insist otherwise can make you susceptible to things like the male loneliness epidemic, which a lot of guys seem to be struggling with in recent years.
According to research published by the American Perspectives Survey, one in four men (or roughly 27 percent) have at least six close friends. This is a significant drop from three decades ago, when it was at 55 percent. What’s more, 15 percent say they don’t have close friends at all, and this number is five times more than it was in 1990.
Apparently, men’s social circles are becoming smaller and smaller. If you’re not careful, you can end up a victim of this widespread phenomenon, unable to pinpoint exactly where it all went wrong.
Why Is There a Male Loneliness Epidemic?
The male loneliness epidemic is so much more than just a bunch of guys with no real friends.
It’s the result of changes in culture and societal expectations, as well as how interpersonal bonds have been affected by modern technology. With how fast-paced the world is today, coupled with the shift in things like traditional gender roles, it’s no surprise that some men find themselves getting the short end of the stick.
What used to be the default setting of men being independent and self-reliant can now manifest as isolation or an inability to ask help from others.
The reputation that men have when it comes to being strong and logical can turn into a dangerous (not to mention incorrect) assumption that they simply don’t experience emotions like women do.
How Men Can Avoid Being Lonely
If you’re a man dealing with the looming threat of the male loneliness epidemic or maybe just concerned about the possibility of spending the rest of your life alone and miserable, then you may need to start looking into some of these things:
- Accept the fact that you need people in your life.
Step one of any issue is to acknowledge the facts. In this case, you need to accept that you can’t go through life by yourself, at least not completely.
You need people — to love, to learn from, and to be loved by.
- Evaluate your existing connections with friends and family.
Before focusing on making new friends and relationships, it’s good for you to look at the ones you already have.
Sometimes, the feeling of loneliness is just a product of a long time ignoring the connections that you’ve already built instead of not having any at all.
- Don’t be afraid to try new things and meet new people.
Another great way to avoid being swept away by the male loneliness epidemic is to open yourself up to new experiences.
If you’ve always been alone but you want to change, then you’re gonna have to do something different. You can start by looking for opportunities to learn more and meet new people.
- Don’t listen to people who tell you that men can’t do things.
Just as it’s true that women can do anything they set their minds on, men can do the same.
You can seek out meaningful connections to make your life happier. You can admit that you’re lonely and that you don’t want to be.
And most importantly, you can yearn for love.
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