Dr. Aditi Nerurkar

Because when you are in that mode, you need to just almost parent yourself and really think about what are you going to do to lean into that idea of self-compassion and really nurture yourself so that you can feel stronger to then do all of those big things that you have planned.

But when you start off thinking or when other people tell you, oh, you're feeling stressed, you know, join a marathon or do this or that, it feels so inauthentic. And so you don't do anything. It's that all or nothing fallacy. It's like, oh, I have to do all of it or none of it. No, you can do a little bit at a time and you can fan that flame of empowerment.

But when you start off thinking or when other people tell you, oh, you're feeling stressed, you know, join a marathon or do this or that, it feels so inauthentic. And so you don't do anything. It's that all or nothing fallacy. It's like, oh, I have to do all of it or none of it. No, you can do a little bit at a time and you can fan that flame of empowerment.

But when you start off thinking or when other people tell you, oh, you're feeling stressed, you know, join a marathon or do this or that, it feels so inauthentic. And so you don't do anything. It's that all or nothing fallacy. It's like, oh, I have to do all of it or none of it. No, you can do a little bit at a time and you can fan that flame of empowerment.

Loneliness is actually one of my favorite topics to talk about. How come? I just find it fascinating. Just like stress and burnout, I love discussing these topics because I like to... demystify things that people feel like it's only happening to me. See, I have this unique vantage point, right? Because I've been a clinician and seeing patients, and then I've also been giving talks.

Loneliness is actually one of my favorite topics to talk about. How come? I just find it fascinating. Just like stress and burnout, I love discussing these topics because I like to... demystify things that people feel like it's only happening to me. See, I have this unique vantage point, right? Because I've been a clinician and seeing patients, and then I've also been giving talks.

Loneliness is actually one of my favorite topics to talk about. How come? I just find it fascinating. Just like stress and burnout, I love discussing these topics because I like to... demystify things that people feel like it's only happening to me. See, I have this unique vantage point, right? Because I've been a clinician and seeing patients, and then I've also been giving talks.

So I see that perspective of what people tell me when the door closes. And I wish more people knew. So let me share the data with you. Loneliness is a global epidemic. Data shows that globally, 330 million people go two weeks without speaking to a friend or a family member. Two weeks? Two weeks.

So I see that perspective of what people tell me when the door closes. And I wish more people knew. So let me share the data with you. Loneliness is a global epidemic. Data shows that globally, 330 million people go two weeks without speaking to a friend or a family member. Two weeks? Two weeks.

So I see that perspective of what people tell me when the door closes. And I wish more people knew. So let me share the data with you. Loneliness is a global epidemic. Data shows that globally, 330 million people go two weeks without speaking to a friend or a family member. Two weeks? Two weeks.

The Surgeon General, who, by the way, Vivek Murthy is my friend from college, and now he is the Surgeon General. Look at that, right? The Surgeon General has said that loneliness is an urgent public health crisis. He wrote a book about it. When you look at the statistics for loneliness, it is so eye-opening. In the U.S., 50% of adults experience loneliness.

The Surgeon General, who, by the way, Vivek Murthy is my friend from college, and now he is the Surgeon General. Look at that, right? The Surgeon General has said that loneliness is an urgent public health crisis. He wrote a book about it. When you look at the statistics for loneliness, it is so eye-opening. In the U.S., 50% of adults experience loneliness.

The Surgeon General, who, by the way, Vivek Murthy is my friend from college, and now he is the Surgeon General. Look at that, right? The Surgeon General has said that loneliness is an urgent public health crisis. He wrote a book about it. When you look at the statistics for loneliness, it is so eye-opening. In the U.S., 50% of adults experience loneliness.

Amongst Gen Z, that number is even higher. So from 18 to 25, that number is even higher, 78%.

Amongst Gen Z, that number is even higher. So from 18 to 25, that number is even higher, 78%.

Amongst Gen Z, that number is even higher. So from 18 to 25, that number is even higher, 78%.

I love that. I will also say, Mel, that when you're talking about something like loneliness, the first step, like we talked about earlier, right? Normalize and validate. So when you share data, it is meant to shock in terms of like, wow, I can't believe that this is what's happening. Maybe I'm not alone then.

I love that. I will also say, Mel, that when you're talking about something like loneliness, the first step, like we talked about earlier, right? Normalize and validate. So when you share data, it is meant to shock in terms of like, wow, I can't believe that this is what's happening. Maybe I'm not alone then.

I love that. I will also say, Mel, that when you're talking about something like loneliness, the first step, like we talked about earlier, right? Normalize and validate. So when you share data, it is meant to shock in terms of like, wow, I can't believe that this is what's happening. Maybe I'm not alone then.

And so the data, yes, it is jarring and striking, but it should hopefully, if you're listening, make you feel like, wow, 50% of adults, 78% of Gen Z. In the latest report by the Surgeon General on parental stress and mental health, 65% of parents feel lonely and 77% of single parents experience loneliness. So it's everywhere. The difference, I love your question.