Hey little girl in the John Lewis ad. Maybe you should send your mate on the moon some tissues.
A new study has confirmed that feeling lonely can not only make you feel a bit rubbish, but it can also make you genuinely ill.
Researchers from the University of Chicago examined blood and urine samples from 141 participants in another decade long study, who they also surveyed each year to find out their level of loneliness and social isolation.
They found that those who scored higher on levels of loneliness had higher levels of norepinephrine, which alters the amount of white bloody cells in our system.
This, in turn, creates a decrease in the power of the body to fight off colds and other infections.
Plus, loneliness contributes to stress – which is known to reduce immune function and cause a whole load of other health issues.
The lesson here: stay social, bond with friends, and visit anyone you know who might be feeling a bit isolated.
It’s good for your emotional health AND it might protect you from a winter of nose-blowing and sore throats. Win win.