Why Am I Lonely but Too Tired to Socialize?

You can feel lonely and still not want to be around anyone.
What will surprise you is that inflammation itself can create a feeling of disconnection, and loneliness feeds that inflammation back.
➡ Full show notes + resources
In this solo episode, Dr. Aimie answers a question from a participant in her practitioner training: why do I feel lonely, but also not want to be around people? She explains the difference between being alone and feeling lonely, why healthy habits did not offset the health cost of loneliness in a study of 277,489 adults, and how stored trauma creates a part that hides and a part that craves connection.
She walks through the loop between loneliness and inflammation, and what to do as the holidays come closer, whether you are with family, with friends or on your own: blood sugar, sleep, a containment hug and words of support for the lonely part of you.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
00:00 – 03:12 Being Alone vs Feeling Lonely
03:12 – 06:19 Why Healthy Habits Don’t Offset Loneliness
06:19 – 08:56 Stepping Back From Family
08:56 – 11:58 Low Energy, Inflammation and Disconnection
11:58 – 14:39 The Loneliness-Inflammation Loop
14:39 – 18:15 Blood Sugar and Comfort Foods
18:15 – 20:56 Sleep and the Containment Hug
20:56 – 24:23 What to Say to the Lonely Part
24:23 – 26:01 Stress Loneliness or Trauma Loneliness?
"I'm not trying to make the loneliness go away. I'm trying to make the loneliness know that it actually isn't all alone." ~ Dr. Aimie Apigian
If you feel lonely but too tired to be around people, or you have stepped back from family on your healing journey, this episode is for you.
RESOURCES:
Get the free Stress or Trauma Guide and learn whether your nervous system has been running a stress response or a trauma response.
Get The Biology of Trauma book. Chapter 9 describes the pattern of disconnection.
This episode is educational and is not medical advice. Please work with your own qualified healthcare provider for decisions about your care.
Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma