We all know that loneliness can feel pretty heavy during the day, but did you know it can also sneak into your dreams? According to some new research published in the "Journal of Psychology," feeling lonely might actually lead to more frequent and intense nightmares.
It’s wild to think about, but when you don’t have those strong social connections, your brain might respond by sending you some pretty unsettling dreams.
Why Does This Happen?
The study found that loneliness, much like hunger or tiredness, is a signal that something important is missing, connection. When our need for human interaction isn’t being met, it doesn’t just affect our mood or mental health during waking hours; it can mess with our sleep, too. Essentially, our bodies start to stress out, leading to bad dreams that interrupt the restorative sleep we all need.
When you're feeling isolated or cut off from others, your brain goes into overdrive, keeping you more alert and more stressed. And when that stress follows you into your sleep, it’s no surprise that you end up with vivid, unsettling nightmares.
Sleep and Loneliness Is A Bigger Problem Than We Think.
We’ve always known that a lack of social connection can lead to anxiety and depression, but this new research adds another layer to the conversation. Loneliness can directly affect the quality of our sleep, which in turn impacts everything from our mood to our ability to function day-to-day. It’s a cycle that’s tough to break out of when you don’t sleep well, you feel worse, and when you feel worse, it’s harder to connect with others.
So, What Can We Do?
The good news is that while loneliness can have a negative effect on our sleep, the solution seems simple: build stronger, meaningful connections. Easier said than done, right? But that’s where we come in.
At Socialode, our goal is to help people form real friendships based on mutual interests, no matter where they are in the world. We're not about collecting likes or followers—we’re about making connections that actually mean something.
Loneliness isn’t just something that affects us when we're awake - it can follow us into our sleep, and we want to do something about that. By helping people connect in a real, meaningful way, we hope to make a difference not just in how people interact, but how they feel - day and night.
When there is a problem, there is always a solution. Hopefully, Socialode will be that answer.
Quick shoutout: This information comes from an article published in the Journal of Psychology by a team of awesome researchers—Kory Floyd, Colin Hesse, Colter D. Ray, and Alan C. Mikkelson.
*Big thanks to them for shedding light on how loneliness can even affect our sleep.
As Always,
You Just Need To Be You
Cheers,
The Socialode Team
