Feeling anti-social? You're not alone. But here's why it could hurt your health.

In busy times, it can feel good when a friend cancels plans last-minute or you have a weekend free of any social commitments — but experts warn Americans' growing tendency toward being anti-social can lead to loneliness, which can actually hurt our health. 

Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called loneliness a public health epidemic, writing in a 2023 report that about half of U.S. adults say they've experienced it.

He suggested people combat "widespread pain and unhappiness" by cultivating community.