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0Erinome: Hello everyone, welcome back to our podcast. I'm Erinome.
Enceladus: And I'm Enceladus. Today, we are going to talk about a very interesting topic. You know that?
Erinome: Yes! It's about being alone for a long time. Why does it make people feel anxious?
Enceladus: Wow, that's a good question. Many people feel this way. Scientists have found some answers.
Erinome: Really? Tell me more.
Enceladus: Okay. A team from South China University of Technology did a study. They used mice that lived alone, like some people.
Erinome: Oh, like a model for people who live by themselves?
Enceladus: Yes, exactly. They found something strange in the brains of the lonely mice. A part called the 'ventral hippocampus' had too much iron.
Erinome: Iron? Like the metal? Isn't iron good for us?
Enceladus: Usually, yes. But here, too much iron was a bad signal. It activated a protein called alpha-synuclein.
Erinome: Alpha-synuclein? That's a hard word.
Enceladus: Haha, yes. Let's just call it the 'bad protein'. This protein made the brain cells fire too much. It's like a short circuit in the brain.
Erinome: Oh no! So the brain thinks there is danger?
Enceladus: Yes! It sends 'danger! run away!' signals. That's the feeling of anxiety. They named this new process 'iron plasticity'.
Erinome: Iron plasticity? What does that mean?
Enceladus: It means the brain's ability to change, driven by iron. It links too much iron in the brain to bad feelings.
Erinome: Sad. So, being alone changes our brain chemistry?
Enceladus: It seems so. But there is good news too! The scientists tried to help the mice.
Erinome: How?
Enceladus: They gave medicine through the nose. It went straight to the brain. They targeted the extra iron or the bad protein.
Erinome: Through the nose? That's easy!
Enceladus: Yes! After only two weeks, the mice felt much better. Their anxiety went down.
Erinome: Wow! So in the future, maybe people can use a nasal spray?
Enceladus: Maybe! It could help old people living alone, or workers in lonely jobs, or even shy teenagers.
Erinome: That's amazing. But why does being alone make us feel bad in the first place? You know that?
Enceladus: Well, humans are social animals. Our brains are made to be with others. When we are alone for too long, a 'happy chemical' called dopamine goes down.
Erinome: Dopamine? I know that one. It makes us feel good.
Enceladus: Right. Studies show it can drop by about 30% when we are very alone. That's a big drop!
Erinome: No wonder we feel sad. Also, our thoughts can get stuck, right?
Enceladus: Yes. When alone, we think about small problems again and again. We make them bigger in our minds. That's called rumination.
Erinome: Rumination. Like a cow chewing its food many times?
Enceladus: Haha, yes, like that! Thinking the same bad thoughts over and over. It's not healthy.
Erinome: So, what can we do if we have to be alone? I sometimes feel this way.
Enceladus: Don't worry! There are many simple things. First, exercise!
Erinome: Exercise? How does that help?
Enceladus: When you move your body, it makes 'happy hormones' called endorphins. They help you relax. Just 30 minutes, a few times a week.
Erinome: I like running. That's good.
Enceladus: Perfect! Also, keep in touch with friends and family. Call them, video chat. It's easy now.
Erinome: Yes, technology helps us stay connected.
Enceladus: And find a hobby! Like reading, drawing, or learning something new. It keeps your mind busy and happy.
Erinome: That sounds nice. But some people say being alone is also good. Is that true?
Enceladus: Oh, yes! Being alone is not always bad. It can be 'positive solitude'.
Erinome: Positive solitude? What's that?
Enceladus: It means choosing to be alone to relax, think clearly, or be creative. It's good for you.
Erinome: So, the problem is not being alone, but feeling lonely and bad about it?
Enceladus: Exactly! Loneliness is a feeling. You can be with people and feel lonely. Or be alone and feel happy.
Erinome: I see. So how do we make alone time better?
Enceladus: Do things you enjoy. Go for a walk in nature, listen to music, write in a diary. Focus on the present moment.
Erinome: Like feeling the sun or tasting your tea?
Enceladus: Yes! That's called mindfulness. It stops the bad thoughts.
Erinome: But what if someone feels very, very lonely and anxious? What then?
Enceladus: That's more serious. They should talk to a professional. A therapist can help. There is a type of talk therapy called CBT.
Erinome: CBT?
Enceladus: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It helps people change their negative thoughts. It's very useful.
Erinome: Good to know. So, we should not be afraid to ask for help.
Enceladus: Never! Your mental health is important. Also, remember, many people live alone now. In China, the number of 'one-person households' is rising.
Erinome: Really?
Enceladus: Yes. In Shanghai, one in four homes has just one person. By 2021, over 92 million people in China lived alone.
Erinome: Wow, that's a lot of people. So this topic is very important for many.
