You're listening to the Allender Center podcast with Dr. Dan Allender. This week, Dan and his wife, Becky Allender, conclude our series on loneliness by asking this central question. How do we tend to loneliness without attempting to erase it or pretend it doesn't exist? We know that the truth is what sets us free.

So Dan and Becky reflect on how the journey away from the shame of disconnection

begins with an act of confession.

Hey, it's good to be back and we're talking about loneliness and I thought this was so interesting.

It was from, it's about the effects for the stay-at-home spouse.

And it talks about that those who are left behind actually have more health issues than those who are on the road.

This came from the March issue of occupational and environmental medicine that uses medical

insurance claims, and they found that spouses of frequent international business travelers were more likely to suffer mental health problems.

And also, there were more claims, tripling of claims for psychological stress related disorders for the spouses of those who were on the staying home

and also claims for treatment of skin and intestinal orders were much higher than those who

were traveling on the road. I think that's incredible. And it makes me think back to our,

my family physicians throughout our married life. You know, they were interested in what you did

back in the day when we both saw the same family physician. But how many of our issues come from being the one left behind or being the one

doing everything to keep everything going? It was kind of validating. What's your point?

I was like, wow, I had no idea that there was some maybe reasons why poison ivy would come or whatever.

Like, amazing.

Well, you know, the heartache, just even hearing that is being left, being alone, literally has health-related issues, mental health levels of stress.

We don't fully comprehend how loneliness is actually a basis for increased stress,

not only in terms of being alone and having to do so much more.

I mean, you would, you know, you would deal with the kids, deal with the house, deal with the lawn,

deal with...

The dogs.

...