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Loneliness can kill you. But it doesn’t have to. Here’s why.

Loneliness may be the most human of feelings. Occasional pangs of loneliness are helpful signals from your brain saying you need to be with others, just as feelings of thirst mean you need water. However, if left unchecked, loneliness can fundamentally rewire your brain in harmful ways. Chronic loneliness increases inflammation, raises blood pressure, and impairs the immune system, making you more likely to get sick.

More insidiously, the lonely brain begins to see even routine social interactions as risky, which drives lonely habits like viewing the world as threatening, not thinking clearly, and acting impulsively. These habits make it harder to connect with people and create a spiraling cycle that stops you from seeking the exact thing that could help reduce loneliness: meaningful engagement with others.

But here’s the exciting news. Scientists have found that the arts also rewire your brain, and in a positive way. When you’re making or enjoying art, levels of the fight-or-flight hormone go down, and levels of feel-good hormones go up. And recent brain imaging research shows that the parts of your brain involved in forming social connections—the ones affected by loneliness—also light up when you engage in creative experiences.

This research suggests that the arts can increase feelings of trust, empathy, and compassion. By being imaginative and creative, you can start a positive cycle that fights against loneliness. Creative engagement can reduce stress, lighten your mood, connect you with your inner self, and strengthen your brain’s social superhighways, sparking brain activities that make it easier to connect with others.

The simple and joyful act of creative exploration can take many forms. When you pursue one that moves you, your perception of the world changes. Compassion can replace conflict. You’ll see opportunities where you once saw threats. Welcome this signal. Use the arts to navigate loneliness in a deeply human, health-enhancing, and lifelong way.