Loneliness doesn't just have a negative impact on your mental health - it can also affect your physical health, including your sleep and the type of dreams you have Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter We have more newsletters Falling asleep can be a monumental task. When you're buzzing from caffeine, wrestling with stress, or haunted by nightmares, you may wake up feeling as though you've hardly shut your eyes. Now, researchers have identified another unexpected factor that could be interrupting your slumber - and it's not about the time you go to bed.
Oddly, it seems to boil down to loneliness. Academics from various universities in the USA have cautioned that lonely individuals are more prone to experiencing disturbing dreams and might even face an increased risk of heart disease, strokes, and premature mortality. Many of these findings were highlighted in a n ew study which casts a spotlight on the health implications of poor social bonds.
"Interpersonal relationships are very much a core human need," said Doctor Colin Hesse of Oregon State University . "When people's need for strong relationships goes unmet, they suffer physically, mentally and socially. Just like hunger or fatigue means you haven’t gotten enough calories or sleep, loneliness has evolved to alert individuals when their needs for interpersonal co.