Is Loneliness a Disease?
Date and time
Come and explore the universal feeling of loneliness together with Dr. Cordula Riemann organized by the Youth Red Cross Zurich and MeWell.
About this event
Cordula will discuss some of the reasons for considering loneliness a disease and the danger of pathologizing it. Cordula’s approach to loneliness is an apparent paradox: A conscious and mindful life and experience of solitude is the best way to prevent loneliness.
Solitude is understood as an important process and personal resource that enables us to become aware of our own wishes, fears and needs: what or who is good for me, what kind of social contact do I need and which people and situations are rather toxic and sap my energy and strength? Taking it further, this means: the better we can deal with being alone, the healthier and more self-determined we live and the more effective our own prophylaxis against loneliness.
About the Speaker
Dr. Cordula Reimann has worked for over 25 years as strategic consultant, communication and conflict advisor, mediator, and process facilitator for various national and international, governmental and non-governmental, organisations in development cooperation and peacebuilding, especially in war and crisis zones. She also works as a personal and organizational coach. Cordula Reimann founded and runs the consulting and training institute core and the coaching company core coaching. Her focus is on the transformation of (collective and transgenerational) trauma, loneliness and social polarisation.
Cordula published her book “The paradox of solitude and loneliness” in 2020 (in German) respectively in 2021 (in English). Based on a biographical approach and interviews with 150 people worldwide as well as current findings from international research on loneliness and results from philosophy, sociology and political science, this book encourages you to embrace and appreciate solitude and loneliness as important companions in life. Cordula also featured in the Swiss documentary “Taboo Loneliness” and her ideas were featured in different Swiss and international newspapers. One of her main arguments is that by better understanding how to be alone, we can develop healthier and more self-determined ways of living and more effectively manage our own loneliness.