Misfit toys.

Welcome to a many episode number 163.

We're going to talk about the topic of loneliness with my return guest, PhD, clinical psychologist

Guy Winch.

Before we get to that interview, I just wanted to read a couple of surveys on the topic

of loneliness.

This is an excerpt from the Schamens Secret Survey filled out by a woman who calls herself

Chris, and she's under 20s, and what if anything you wish for?

I wish I didn't spend every day inside avoiding people, avoiding life.

I wish I could make things and do things and talk to people.

Instead, I'd just wait for my debt to explode, for my landlord to kick me out, for my mom

to reject me.

I'd wait for that injury that makes not having insurance a problem, and for the explosion

that will happen once others discover my withdrawal from life.

I wish I could just be a normal person and go about my day, running errands, exercising,

having friends, working, finishing school, making some art, having some fun, instead,

I'm just in a dirt zombie waiting for time to pass, trying desperately to make it fly

by faster by engaging in perpetual distraction and completely ignoring my health.

Well, I'm sending you a hug, Chris, I think there's a lot of people that she also isolates

and binges on food and porn, and just want to remind you that you are not alone.

A lot of people battle those things, and isolation is super common with those of us who are

in pain.

...