The Loneliness Epidemic: America's Silent Health Crisis

Patrick Bet-David discusses America's silent health crisis: the loneliness epidemic. Did you know the Surgeon General warned the public that loneliness is as dangerous as smoking?

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Patrick Bet-David is the founder and CEO of Valuetainment Media. He is the author of the #1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller Your Next Five Moves

[BROS_Guzz]

I am a remodeling contractor who is in the clients home for an average of 2 to 3 weeks until the project is done. Been doing it for over a decade. One of the things that I've always noticed is how many Americans don't get family or friends visitors to their home. From low income to wealthy rich. People are lonely in this country.

[theredpilllion]

"I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone.”
~ Robin Williams RIP

[untouchablex]

Trying to date is like trying to find a good car in the junk yard. Most people would rather walk.

[MCMXCVIII-JA]

The crazy thing about this video is that I know this guy doesn’t feel lonely, but he gets it. He doesn’t need to feel lonely to understand that there are a lot of lonely people. I respect you a lot Pat. Thank you!

[wzg]

I'd say mens numbers are under reported and women's numbers are over reported. Men don't want to admit to being lonely because they are usually shamed further for being alone where with women, there's more of a support system in place to kinda prevent their loneliness if they admit that they feel that way. Men kinda have to just act like they aren't alone until they decide to just be honest about it.

[genxx]

People at the gym are busy ignoring each other. It was that way even 30 years ago. Plus nowadays they have their earbuds in. Nothing signals “don’t talk to me” like earbuds.

[ChorusArtists]

Social media and handheld devices have destroyed people's social skills, particularly the young, who've never known anything else. We're neurologically changed. People don't make the effort to engage, or invest time in relationships. We just socialize differently, and it's not an improvement at all. It's pseudo socializing.

[viperjc]

some of the biggest backstabbers in my life have been people that used to call me their best friend. They turn into very selfish individuals that take and take and never give. Its better to be by yourself and better yourself than going out to meet potentially toxic people.

[TherdGunman]

I'm so lonely it's just normal now...My phone doesn't ring, I know none of my neighbors (despite trying), no one visits, I got nowhere to go and no one to go there with.

[darrenhere]

took 6 years to care for my mom because i didn't want her in a home. i was working full time and was so engaged. exhausted and tired but full of energy. i had purpose. then she passes away (at home thankfully). i still had kinship and purpose at my employer, until they gave me a severance. i have now been in empty house for 2 years, with no purpose and no real understanding of what i am to do. its painful but i can endure. i just wish i knew what my purpose is... but i guess everyone kinda wonders the same thing. God bless you all, and remember as painful as it can get you are never really all alone.

[TonyMoze]

What I’ve learned through my life’s research:

Anytime I tried keeping friends via social media, they were less likely to want to meet in person.

So I deleted social media off my phone so I can see people in person.

[Mac-ihrb]

The root of this is social media. Period. I'd bet the loneliness and single household chart is almost identical to the rise in computing power. There is no more genuine human interaction in person. Older folk are better than this. I worked valet at a hotel in college and it was always the older folks who took the time to speak to me and get to know me, even if it was just during a short trip to their room. And this will not get better. Nobody is seeking natural avenues of dopamine.

[AncientGamer-qc]

I didn't choose the lonely life, the lonely life chose me. That's been my life so far. People suck, don't care, and most of aren't interested in interacting with others.

Best to get used to that.

[Dannyholt]

Our economy struggling with uncertainties, housing issues, foreclosures, global fluctuations, and pandemic aftermath, causing instability. Rising inflation, sluggish growth, and trade disruptions need urgent attention from all sectors to restore stability and stimulate growth.

[JoeSmith-gilf]

I think a major factor in loneliness is that we rarely share common experiences. Back in the old days, there were only a few TV channels. What this meant was that we all watched the same TV shows. This allowed us to be able to relate to one another at least at that level. Now days, each person programs their own TV network just for themselves and only in rare instances do people see the same shows. I know this idea is kind of trivial, but I think it makes a big difference. I experience this in the workplace were all of us old farts can reminisce about the old crappy shows we used to watch. The younger people don't seem able to share that kind of experience.

[indiablackwell]

From right before Covid to now I’ve lost like 80% of the circle of people I talk to. I’ve lost friends, co-works, and some have died . Sometimes I go a couple days without talking to anyone. It’s just me in my head.

[dylanhill]

Being alone is such a blessing at times. I'm glad that I live on a boat with no drama around me.

[A.J._Bennett]

Hey Patrick, I'm currently a senior in college and I've encountered some of the same challenges when it comes to socializing. Despite my efforts to engage with others, whether at bars, in classes, the gym, or during everyday interactions with people around my age (18-22 age), I've found it quite frustrating. It seems that many individuals lack the ability to have a conversation or they don’t even try. As a result, conversations often become awkward and fizzle out rapidly. I feel like I’m a wasp in a beehive, and the bees know I’m not supposed to be here. I don’t see how anyone can solve this problem.

[MrFernandogj]

When covid first hit, I had just moved to a new state and didnt have too many friends. This came with a hard breakup of a long term relationship I had... I threw myself fully into my job and getting into fitness... but I didnt realize how slowly I was becoming isolated, socially awkward and losing my confidence.. My days started to blend together... everyday was the same, Id wake up tired without any motivation, go to work, come home, train, play video games and sleep... over and over.... I was falling apart. Ive slowly taken steps to increase my confidence, got back to school and im trying to be social again. Its hard and I hope I succeed... I am afraid that I wont

[jm]

There is an aspect to the loneliness epidemic in America that no one is talking about. This may sound strange coming from me a married man with three children but I am an active observer. People today are way too proud and too arrogant to answer text, email, DM, or even phone calls. so many people have this over inflated ego problem that they’re too good for the average human being. But you have to remember whether you’re male or female you will get older, you will get heavier, your body will slow down you will not stay a supermodel forever. So walking around with a over inflated ego full of pomp, it will lead you into a dark corner of loneliness later on. Social media, Instagram, and other inappropriate websites have given people over inflated appraisals for themselves. Everyone thinks they’re a perfect 10 when actually, they are just average. So it boils down to a lot of narcissism and egotistical behavior that has facilitated all of this