The UnLonely Project founder Jeremy Nobel, MD, MPH was featured in this article for OptionB.org, the site built in conjunction with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s book Option B.  OptionB.Org is dedicated to helping you build resilience in the face of adversity—and giving you the tools to help your family, friends, and community build resilience too. 

Here’s an excerpt from the article.  You can read the full story here. 

Comfort a friend facing a lonely holiday

It might surprise you that during this season of holiday parties and family gatherings, some of us feel more alone than ever. Loneliness creeps up year-round, but it can be an especially tough experience during the holidays.

What is loneliness?

Public health practitioner and physician Jeremy Nobel says that loneliness is the difference between the social connections a person wants and the ones they feel they have. It doesn’t matter if a person has plenty of friends; their view of the quality of their relationships can lead them to feel that something is missing. It’s also possible for someone to feel lonely even when they’re surrounded by others. One might feel lonely in a marriage, at work, or in a classroom.¹ Loneliness is not the same as being alone—choosing solitude at times can help introverts recharge… (more)

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• The Second Annual UnLonely Film Festival
• The Second Annual UnLonely Symposium
• The UnLonely Project