web1_TTL072018Montaneri.jpg

Man pleads guilty to killing grandmother, sentenced to prison

web1_sirens.jpg

Troopers report rash of burglaries in Milnesville section of Hazle Township

<p>No man is an island</p><p>My 3-year-old granddaughter Rowan usually goes to bed quite readily after her nighttime routine. OK, sometimes she&#8217;ll talk me or Mary into a third book, but once she&#8217;s tucked in, she usually talks with her stuffed animals for a while, maybe sings a song to herself, and nods off.</p><p>This Saturday was different. Mary and I were babysitting while Kate and Andy went to a charity event in Chicago. Ro&#8217;s bedtime routine progressed normally right through tucking in. About 10 minutes later though, she called out for Mary, who went right up to check. After settling down, Ro said, &#8220;Sometimes a little girl doesn&#8217;t like to be alone.&#8221;</p><p>Not just little girls my dearest.</p><p>Loneliness, that sadness from feeling isolated and alone is a serious and widespread public health challenge. It&#8217;s been found that 20 percent of people older than 60 admit to intense feelings of loneliness. Studies have revealed that a startlingly large number of Americans say they don&#8217;t have a best friend to whom they could talk about serious matters.</p><p>The widespread presence of social media has complicated the already difficult transitions of adolescence. Although highly connected to &#8220;friends,&#8221; many teens and young adults describe a deep sense of aloneness and crave personal ties of a more meaningful kind. The added pressures of subtle or even overt bullying magnify the dangers.</p><p>The pain they, and in fact most who have insufficient connections to others, feel is real. Studies have shown that the medicine in Tylenol actually helped people complaining of distressing loneliness feel less troubled.</p><p>The effects of isolation are both psychological and physical. Depression, anxiety, and there&#8217;s some evidence that even Alzheimer&#8217;s disease are connected to loneliness. There&#8217;s certainly a relationship with many physical disorders. Cardiac problems including heart rhythm problems, blood pressure, GI troubles, immune suppression, sleep disorders all are possible consequences of the kind of psychic distress that loneliness causes.</p><p>We&#8217;ve known for some time that happiness seems more a consequence of strong, sustaining relationships and having a satisfying, positive impact on others than on the accumulation of money, things and power. When age, infirmity, social circumstances, location and so many other possible characteristics conspire to keep someone alone, the development of symptoms, both physical and emotional, are certainly understandable.</p><p>There&#8217;s hope though, even when it seems bleakest. Even if family and friends are no longer in the picture for older folks who have outlived their loved ones, community services, church groups, and even neighbors can provide a sorely needed connection. Students may find that school counselors, teachers, coaches and advisors provide some access to sorely needed encouragement. We need to count on each other.</p><p>If you, yourself need someone, please don&#8217;t despair. Call someone, write an old acquaintance, stop by the library or church. Each community has some resource &#8230; make an effort to connect &#8230;</p><p>If you&#8217;re OK, think carefully, and talk with your friends and family. I bet you&#8217;ll think of someone who could use a call, or a visit. Make the first move. Remember, a sustained relationship with ongoing contacts, even if short and sweet, might mean more than one elaborate effort.</p><p>Rowan was fine after Mary sat in the rocker in Ro&#8217;s room and they talked for a while. There was singing.</p><p>That little girl was pretty smart.</p><p>Sometimes we all don&#8217;t like to be alone. Do what you can to help someone; maybe sing. </p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_casale_edit-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_casale_edit-4.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Alfred Casale</p><p>To Your Health</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Dr. Alfred Casale, a cardiothoracic surgeon, is associate chief medical officer for Geisinger and chair of the Geisinger Heart Institute. Readers may write to him via ae@www.timesleader.com.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

There’s value in meaningful personal ties