Imposed Loneliness In Old Age: 7 Possible Psychological Causes
Imposed loneliness is an increasingly common phenomenon in the Western world, whose causes are very diverse.
Old age is a period of rest and happiness for many people, in which, after several decades of hard work, we are allowed to retire from the working world to live the rest of our lives to the fullest.
However, for many people this stage of life is the beginning of a period of imposed loneliness, a phenomenon increasingly common in societies around the world, which can be treated by professionals.
Imposed loneliness is a type of involuntary loneliness that many elderly people suffer and that is characterized by a feeling of social isolation, as well as loss in day-to-day social relationships.
What psychological phenomena intervene in the loneliness imposed on older people?
There are many phenomena that intervene in the imposed loneliness that some older people experience and that have a decisive influence on an emotional and psychological level. Below we present a list of the most important ones.
1. Nostalgia for the past
Nostalgia is one of the most common feelings in people during the process of old age and usually becomes one of the main factors of loneliness in the individual in the long term.
Memories of a better past, real or idealized, tend to constantly flood the thoughts of older people and normally negatively influence various personality markers, including self-esteem, extroversion, sociability and a positive view of life. life in general.
Although this is not always the case, many older people enter a state of real or perceived loneliness by repeatedly yearning for a past of happiness and fulfillment that no longer exists and will never return.
2. Loss of emotional social ties
The loss of a partner, as well as family and friends during the period of old age is one of the main causes that increase the risk of real or perceived loneliness in older people.
Perceived loneliness is often independent of the amount of social contacts that can continue to be maintained at the current moment, as well as the number of people with whom one interacts in daily life.
That is to say, an elderly person who is in a residence with all types of care and professionals specialized in their health, as well as with other residents, may continue to feel alone or socially isolated.
3. Grief processes that have not been overcome
Likewise, the grieving processes for the death of loved ones, which have not yet been overcome, also contribute to the elderly person feeling alone and isolated from society.
The loss of a loved one is a very painful process that can be faced in different ways depending on the person. If all its phases are not correctly addressed satisfactorily, the affected person may go through a series of emotional and psychological effects.
Older people usually go through several grieving processes in a short time, and in their case, these effects or alterations can range from affliction and exacerbated pain, to confusion, anger or other consequences that directly influence emotional health and physical of the person.
4. Difficulties in meeting friends from youth and adulthood
It is evident that old age is a stage where friends and family members who are very important to a person’s life are lost and, as has been indicated, these recurring deaths affect emotionally and can increase the feeling of loneliness.
For those friendships that are still alive, it is often difficult to continue communicating due to the advanced age states of both parties, and even more difficult to meet in person to chat or catch up.
5. Problems understanding new technologies
Many older people experience first-hand the challenge of using new technologies to communicate with their loved ones or carry out the most basic household tasks.
The recurrent failure when using new technologies, as well as the difficulty in understanding their operation and uses, increases the person’s feeling of loneliness, a fact that negatively influences their emotional health.
6. Disconnection with the dominant generation
Another phenomenon that increases loneliness in older people is the disconnection they feel with the modern world and the abyss at all levels that exists between their generation and the generations born in subsequent decades.
The new society is very different from the one they knew and its changes at a cultural and social level often generate feelings of incomprehension, disorientation, helplessness and loneliness.
The lives of retired or pensioned people usually change radically overnight and the change in habits in the new period also usually has a negative impact on the person.
The lack of work schedules and daily responsibilities often cause emotional and psychological disturbances in elderly people, a fact that also contributes to increasing their loneliness on a daily basis.
This phenomenon can be reversed by recovering a regimen of activities and occupations throughout the week, with which the person feels useful again and continues to maintain a daily routine.
You may be interested: “Psychological guidance in retirement: how does it work and what are its advantages?”
Are you looking for professional psychological support?
At Adhara Psychology we offer psychotherapy services for people of all ages, based on the experience provided by more than a decade of professional experience.
