Everyone experiences loneliness from time to time, with many people  becoming especially aware of feelings of loneliness around the holiday  season,   and during times of extreme stress. While the sheer number of people  who experience loneliness is quite large. people don’t always talk about feelings of  loneliness and don’t always know what to do with these feelings. Other  than being emotionally painful, loneliness can affect people in many  ways:    Physical Health:   Several studies have linked emotional stress with depressed immunity.  Other research links loneliness and depression with poorer health and  well being. That means that people who are experiencing loneliness are  susceptible to a variety of health issues.           Depression: One study found that lonely people showed  more depressive symptoms and that lonely and depressed people alike  tended to experience less "togetherness" in social interactions.    Physical Pain: Research shows that the ar...