Dr. Edward Hallowell

In fact, social isolation is as dangerous for early death as cigarette smoking.

Most people have no idea about that.

If you ask them to list risk factors, they'll say cigarette smoking, obesity, genetics, don't wear your seatbelt.

Nobody puts down loneliness, but my gosh, it's right near the top of the list.

And if people would make it a priority to connect,

I call it the other vitamin C, vitamin connect.

It is the most powerful force that most people don't make use of.

I urge people, you know, if you go to the supermarket, talk to the guy at the checkout counter.

He needs it or she needs it as much as you do.

Well, all of the above.

When you're feeling lonely, your immune system suffers and you are putting out stress hormones that are caustic.

And then what you also said, you're inclined to try to fill in the emptiness of

with things like online gambling or drinking or drug use or dangerous liaisons or dangerous business deals, reckless going online, connecting in chat rooms where you don't know who you're talking to.

And it's really just about people trying to find meaningful ways of connecting.

And I can't tell you how many patients I've prescribed a dog for.

I mean, dogs are the world's great.

I dedicated my last book to dogs.

I said it's no accident that God spelled backwards as dog.

Dogs are the world's best connectors.

And so if you have a dog, chances are you're not going to feel lonely or nearly as lonely.