7 Surprising Physical Signs Of Loneliness

A 2017 study published in Health Psychology found that lonely and socially isolated people were more likely to experience severe cold symptoms than those who felt more socially connected. Those participating in the study were first given questionnaires about loneliness before being infected with with the common cold. After five days, they were asked to report how their symptoms felt. As researchers found, people who scored higher on loneliness recorded their cold symptoms (runny rose, sneezing, sore throat) as more severe than those who scored lower for loneliness. Although loneliness didn't cause people to get sick, those who felt lonely and isolated were more likely to feel like their symptoms were much worse, even if that wasn't always the case.

"Loneliness can lead to feeling an increase in aches and pains," Aerin Ogden, health and wellness expert with Utah Addiction Centers, tells Bustle. In fact, a 2014 study published in Health Psychology found that adults who experienced chronic loneliness also experienced higher day-to-day pain levels.

But it's not all negative. Researchers also found that when lonely people experienced more "daily positive events" and interactions, they were able to experience much more joy than "non-lonely" people. According to researchers, their findings can be helpful for physicians treating people with loneliness and chronic pain. If they can provide patients with strategies for having more positive interpersonal connections daily, it can help boost their wellbeing.

As Dr. Khubchandani says, some physical symptoms associated with loneliness may start with high blood pressure. In fact, a 2010 study published in the journal Psychology and Aging found that middle and older aged adults (over 50 years-old), who reported feeling lonely experienced an increase in blood pressure over the course of four years. The authors defined loneliness as "the distressing feeling that accompanies discrepancies between one’s desired and actual social relationships," and up to 32 percent of adults over 55 will report feeling lonely at some point.

Research has found links between feelings of loneliness and levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body. People who feel lonely tend to have higher levels of cortisol. When your body is stressed, your inflammatory response system will be affected. "The stress of loneliness can cause inflammation in body systems, leading to heart disease and stroke," Dr. Khubchandani says.

A 2012 study published in the journal Acta Psychologica found that loneliness and social exclusion leads to lower skin temperatures. As researchers wrote, "People feel colder because they are colder." For instance, in one study, participants who were excluded in an online ball tossing game were found to have lower finger temperatures than those who were included. Interestingly enough, holding something warm like a cup of warm tea helped in reversing the effects of social exclusion.

A 2017 study published in the journal Psychological Medicine found that feelings of loneliness are linked to bad sleep quality, especially in young adults. The effects tend to be more significant in those who were exposed to violence during childhood.

A 2018 study published in the journal Psycho-Oncology found links between feelings of social connectedness and brain health. According to the study, breast cancer survivors who had high degrees of loneliness had higher rates of concentration and memory issues than those who felt more socially connected.

Overall, loneliness can affect your health in negative ways. It's important to keep in mind that these signs and symptoms are all links. Loneliness may be a major factor, but it's hard to say it directly causes things like lack of sleep and lower body temperatures.

Regardless, Latimer says, signs of loneliness should be taken seriously. "I highly encourage us to ask others if they are OK instead of assuming someone else will say something (that's called the bystander effect)," she says. "It's important to recognize that at the extreme, loneliness can be a precursor to hopelessness which can have devastating outcomes."

So be mindful of the people around you. If you're the one feeling lonely, there's really no harm in reaching out to someone for help.