You can avoid potentially deadly effects of loneliness by dealing and coping with it more effectively. Learn ways other people are overcoming loneliness.

Happiness and other positive emotions may have a powerful influence on our health. They can make your immune system function better, provide a protective effect against some diseases and even help you live longer. Happiness and related mental states, such as, hopefulness, optimism and contentment appear to decrease the risk or limit the severity of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases as well as colds and upper-respiratory infections.

Unlike happiness and other positive mental states, being lonely is bad for you. Not only is loneliness painful to experience, it can also be potentially deadly. It can put you at a greater risk for getting sick or dying compared to cigarette smoking.

Unfortunately, loneliness is a big problem among kids, teens, college students and senior citizens. People deal with loneliness in different ways. Here's an article about how some people use pets to deal with lonelines. Here's the link:

==>  Does Your Pet Seem Almost Human? It May Be A Clever Response To Loneliness

Connecting with other people by making a difference in your community or in other people's lives can be an effective way to deal with loneliness. Here are some useful links:

*  servenet.org  - Find volunteering opportunities in your area. Find volunteering resources.

*  Virtual Volunteering - This is great if you're very busy, but you still want to get involved and make a difference. You might have time for remote volunteering opportunities. You can volunteer "virtually" from anywhere using your computer. Visit www.volunteermatch.org and click "virtual" instead of number of miles when you search for volunteering opportunities.

*  www.volunteermatch.org  -  Find volunteering opportunities in your area.

*  sierraclub.com  —  Make a difference and meet other people interested in nature and helping save the environment. 

By making a difference in your community, you have a good chance of meeting new friends or connecting with someone special... one with a good heart.

To your happiness...

Allie