Loneliness changes your brain: Isolation chemical makes you feel afraid

Chronic loneliness changes the chemicals produced in the brain, causing feelings of aggression and fear, scientists have discovered.

But an old, largely failed psychiatric drug might work to alleviate those negative emotions by suppressing the loneliness chemical.

Social isolation has been a growing problem in the US, and has been not only led to increased rates of depression and post traumatic stress disorder, but to higher risks of chronic disease.

Although the California Institute of Technology researchers made their discovery in mice, it may some day help us to develop improved treatments for or even preventative measures against mental illnesses.

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