Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Frank Powers discuss how loneliness affects health and lifespan, especially after losing a spouse. People in long-term relationships face a striking six-month mortality risk after their partner dies. They argue that finding a new relationship quickly can ease both mental and physical wellbeing.
Loneliness is an issue. It's a big issue. And you do live longer and usually happier if you're in relationship.
I mean, the statistics of people dying after a spouse dying are very high, or, you know, coming down with illness.
Really, it's 6 months for a long-term relationship.
One of the things that I find with women is that, and families, is that your kids will say, oh, she's really happy. My mother lives alone and she's striving. And like it's some kind of a badge of courage and medal. And strength. Well, of course she's happy when she sees them. What are you gonna do? You're gonna go to dinner with them and say, I am lonely, I am miserable. You're gonna—
you gotta find me somebody quick. So whenever you cover that, of course you cover that.
Whenever you see these widows, they're happy because you're seeing them because they want you to be.
And they don't wanna be a drag, so they, they kind of fake it most times. Uh, I mean, there are of course people that are happy on their own and have a very fulfilled and wonderful life. However, for most of us, we do better if we in relationship.
And I mean, guys are dying 2 years after their wives.
