LONELINESS EPIDEMIC: 4 Hidden Health Risks Every Estranged Mom Faces

The U.S. Surgeon General has officially declared loneliness a public health epidemic—but for many estranged moms, this crisis isn’t new. If you’ve been living in silence, feeling emotionally isolated, and questioning your worth as a mother, you’re not alone. In this episode, we’ll explore how the loneliness epidemic is uniquely impacting mothers who are estranged from their adult children. From health risks to shame spirals, we’re breaking down what’s really going on beneath the surface—and what you can do to begin healing. If you’re exhausted from carrying this pain alone, this is your invitation to step toward peace. Don’t miss my upcoming free webinar, The Turning Point, happening Friday, July 25 at 7 PM EST—designed just for moms like you.

Register today and take your first step toward clarity, strength, and renewed hope.

Save your spot here: https://www.sally-harris.com/the-turning-point-registration-form

 

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
The US surgeon General declaredloneliness, an epidemic, which is
a public health crisis, right, onthe level of smoking and obesity.
But if you're a mom estranged fromyour adult child, you didn't need that
report to tell you that you've beenliving it, and you felt it in the quiet
birthdays, the unanswered messages,and that aching space where connection

(00:24):
used to live with you and your child.
But this isn't just sadness.
It's so much deeper than that.
And if no one has told you this yet,your pain, your emotions, your feelings,
and your healing, they all matter.
loneliness in estrangementis not just emotional, right?
It's spiritual, it's physical.

(00:45):
It can feel like grief with no closure.
It's identity shaking ofwho you are at your core.
It can even feel like being amom and not having a map anymore.
So if you're questioning your worthwhile pretending you're just fine, I
want you to know that you're not alone.
And so today I have four points for youthat I think each mom needs to hear.

(01:09):
let's dive in.
Number one is lonelinessisn't just sadness.
So loneliness in that Surgeon General'sreport may not have been a hundred
percent about estrangement, but Iguarantee it was a portion of it.
It was about two years ago.
They claimed that.

(01:30):
I think a lot of it hadto do with 2020 as well.
However, loneliness is also a health risk.
Okay?
So this kind of long-term disconnectionfrom someone that you love so deeply, it
will create chronic stress in your body.
Now I am not a doctor, but trust me,I lived that for a very long time.

(01:52):
I know all about chronic stressand I know all about inflammation
and how it can affect your body.
it weakens your immune system, Itheightens anxiety and depression and the
surgeon general even compared the healthrisks to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
So when you're saying I just feeloff or I don't feel like myself.

(02:14):
you're not imagining it.
Your whole body, your wholesystem is reacting to this loss.
So that's number one.
Secondly, shame is what's locking you.
So many moms stay quiet aboutestrangement because they fear judgment.
They think that they failed.
They assume they're the only one.

(02:35):
I hear this all the time from moms.
When I hop on a discovery call, it'slike, I thought I was the only one.
I thought I was the only one.
Shame will thrive in silence, andthen silence deepens the wound.
So what you're walking through is notthis reflection of, failure as a mom.

(02:55):
It's a reflection of how brokenrelationships can be in this
world, but you don't have towalk through it by yourself.
So if any of this is resonatingwith you, if you're tired of living
behind the mask as we say, ormaybe you're praying for peace, but
you're not knowing how to find it.
I want to invite you to somethingI've created just for moms like you.

(03:16):
I am doing a free live presentationcalled The Turning Point.
It's on Friday, July25th at 7:00 PM Eastern.
So please note your own timezone there, but it's gonna be
a powerful one hour session.
It'll help you understandwhat's really keeping you stuck.
It's going to help you beginreleasing the guilt and shame and

(03:37):
silence, and I'm gonna help youdiscover a path to emotional peace.
Even if your child isnot ready to connect yet.
this presentation, will leave youwith some strength and a new sense
of direction, in truth and in hope.
you can click the link below orin the show notes to register.
And I'm hoping that that turningpoint will start that evening

(03:58):
for you if it hasn't already.
I'm really excited to see you there.
Number three is you weren'tmeant to heal alone.
We always do that, and especiallyin the beginning and loneliness.
You know, like I said, it tends tohave you withdraw 'cause you think,
oh, I don't wanna burden anyone.
Or you know, it's hard to talkabout something so personal

(04:21):
and then feel misunderstood.
We've all done thatwith friends and family.
But here's the truth.
God did not design you tocarry your pain in isolation.
I promise you that.
Community and your faithare not just a comfort.
They're transformative, and they'renecessary because when you can begin
to connect with others who get it,your fight or flight, your nervous

(04:44):
system will stop bracing itself, right?
You can begin to learn how to stop walkingon eggshells for every conversation.
You're gonna feel understood andheard, and you realize that you're
not crazy, you're human, you'regrieving, and you are worthy of care,

(05:04):
and many of you don't believe you are.
And when you anchor in your healing andyour faith, not your child's behavior,
you can start to heal your own soul.
And you remember that youridentity is not just a mom.
healing doesn't start with your childapologizing or coming back or whatever

(05:25):
that looks like for your family.
It starts when you step into aspace where you're fully seen fully
loved and reminded of who you areapart from anyone else's choices.
And lastly, number four isyou don't need a perfect plan.
So many moms wait untileverything feels ready.
Like what does that even mean, right?

(05:47):
When the relationship improves.
I'll be better when I can stopfeeling ashamed or guilty.
I will feel better.
When I have more time.
I'll feel better.
But the truth is you don't needto have it all figured out.
You don't need this five step plan.
You don't need your adult child to wakeup and change whatever is going on.

(06:09):
You just need to sayyes to healing yourself.
First and foremost, youneed to say yes to support.
And that is my hope for you.
So I hope to see you in the TurningPoint presentation on Friday the
25th, and so we will see you then.
God bless.