Loneliness is a sensitive problem
Pharmacist V. Bečelytė says that loneliness can be two-fold – social and emotional, but both of them significantly contribute to deteriorating mental health, the development of bad habits, as well as an increase in the risk of cardiovascular diseases and dementia. Unfortunately, the statistics are not encouraging – even one in five seniors in Lithuania would not have anyone to ask for help in case of trouble.
“Elderly people naturally face the loss of loved ones, various health disorders, they don’t always easily adapt to the changing world and innovations. Dažin rarely meets family members, has no pets, has a hard time coping with the changed rhythm of life, the changes and limitations caused by aging. The old people who visit the pharmacy sometimes admit that it is the only opportunity to leave the house, some do not hide the fact that they have no one to talk to,” says V. Bečelytė.
According to her, loneliness is a painful experience resulting from a lack of communication and various activities, a lack of emotional connections, and living alone. If a person feels lonely for a long time, his daily life may also be accompanied by anxiety, other negative emotions, disturbed sleep, heart rhythm, changed eating habits, physical activity. All this can lead not only to the deterioration of the immune system or exacerbation of chronic diseases, but also to a considerable increase in the risk of depression.
According to the World Health Organization, Lithuania is among the top ten European countries with the highest rates of depression. 5.6 percent suffer from depression. Lithuanians, among whom almost 30 percent 50-64 years old and more than 20 percent. – aged over 65 years.
Friendship gives strength
“Sidabrinė linija”, which offers friendship chats, has been inviting lonely or unsociable seniors to maintain a friendly relationship with like-minded people for eight years – all you have to do is call the free number 8 800 800 20 and register. Each month there are at least 50-660 conversational pairs that communicate regularly, with more than 3,000 conversations in July alone. Volunteers say that they have to hear all kinds of stories from the elderly: some are painful, marked by cold family relationships or losses, others are embittered by illness, poor health, or, on the contrary, shining with optimism and the desire to enjoy life again.
“My interlocutor’s days are long and lonely, in his own words: ‘I am alone, like a wolf, even though he howls.’ He says that he never believed that in old age it would be so terrible to be alone and not have enough health. He was single, and he and his wife did not have children either. Now she is dead, and her husband has no close relatives. The only consolation for him is the conversations provided by the “Silver Line”. We talk together after an hour and a half and we are still running out of time. As I noticed, he even became more cheerful, he is waiting for our conversations since the morning. We are like relatives now. It seems how little is needed for a stranger to become your own, to fall in love with him and to care about him”, says volunteer Birutė Grybauskienė.
Kristina Čiuželienė, the co-founder of the organization, seconded the volunteer, saying that more than 40 percent The interlocutors of the “Silver Line” do not have close people with whom they can talk honestly, express their worries and disturbing thoughts. In addition, more than half of the interviewees are prone to depressive mood and accompanying poor physical health.
“Older people often make the mistake of underestimating themselves, feeling unnecessary, uninteresting or rejected. In “Silver Line” we try to show the opposite – we value the accumulated life experience and knowledge of seniors, we understand the desire to be heard and seen. Loneliness can be like a serious disease for a person, which is not easy to overcome. However, many cases have shown that a simple and sincere conversation and the mutual connection created can brighten up everyday life even for those who have come to terms with their loneliness”, says K. Čiuželienė.
The most important thing is to dare
Pharmacist V. Bečelytė of the pharmacy chain “Camelia”, which cooperates with “Sidabrine linija” and provides financial support to it, urges the elderly to pay attention to their changed emotions and physical signals.
If gloomy, restless or sad thoughts continue for several weeks, feelings of emptiness, loneliness, worthlessness, sleep problems, poor appetite, headaches or body aches that have appeared for no apparent reason, you can no longer concentrate, you no longer enjoy activities you used to enjoy – it’s worth talking to your loved ones about it , doctors or pharmacists who can help you find the help you need.
“For people living with negative emotions, it is very important to know that help is available, you just need to talk about the need for it. There are so many special chat lines, like-minded gatherings, every polyclinic or clinic has at least a few psychiatrists or psychotherapists. The most difficult thing is to understand that something is not good for us emotionally and to talk about it, not to consider this topic taboo – in this way we will not help not only ourselves, but also many people around us who suffer silently”, adds V. Bečelytė.
2024-09-11 15:02:35