The Detrimental Effects of Isolation
I used to think that I thrive in solitude. Poets and philosophers, painters and authors — all have cultivated a somewhat romantic image of the freedom involved in being truly alone. However, the image of the lone genius is often lacking the reality of extreme solitude and the severe effects it can have on mental and physical state, as I’ve come to realize.
“In our current age, isolation is a growing issue. Not only has the emergence of online culture aided a division between the individual and society, but as our population ages, so too do the effects of isolation on the elderly,” explain depression expert at Boomessays and Essay Services. We are hardwired to seek patterns and stimulus, and when we are deprived of this, some unusual and often unpleasant things occur. Here is a story of things that happened to me when I was isolated from other people for too long.
Sleep Patterns
In the early stages of isolation, I found my sleep patterns adjusted according to my needs. At first, this was very healthy, as my natural rhythms returned and my sleep cycles became more natural. Very soon, however, I slipped into unhealthy sleeping patterns.
“Without active stimulus or physical activity, our brain has a tendency to seek rest and recuperation,” says Zach Shields, a lifestyle blogger at AustralianHelp and BigAssignments. “Under normal circumstances, this is our minds way of preparing us for social exertion. But when this social exertion doesn’t come, we fall into new patterns of sleep and wakefulness, not all of which are healthy.”
Time Shifts
Part of the reason why my sleep patterns became so skewed during periods of isolation was the change in my perception of time. With no specific time reference, i.e ‘go to the shops at 3,’ or ‘meet X at Y time’ I ceased to have any use of keeping track of time.
My day-to-day perception of time was always on my peripheral consciousness, keeping my body and mind in check in order to achieve personal or societal targets, however mundane they may be. Without these targets, my understanding of time deteriorated.
Inactivity
This deterioration of time perception facilitated long periods of inactivity for me. I lacked stimulus time, and my perception sped up. Five minutes became only 100 seconds which means a day could pass very quickly.
Such inactivity brought with it other side effects. Inactivity lead to greater inactivity for longer periods, as my mind and body required ever larger quantities of energy to fight against it. I went through a drastic and permanent transformation when it comes to my interactions with the world at large. In short, overfamiliarity with isolation bred contempt for socialization.
Ill Health
Inactivity brought with it a myriad of physical ills. Lack of physical exercise is well publicized as the cause of many ailments. These can include arthritis, muscular atrophy, and heart disease, amongst many others. It reduced the capacity of my immune system.
Cognitive Decline
“One of the most damaging issues to stem from isolation, especially amongst the elderly, is the decline in cognitive function,” writes Erika Bloch, a blog writer at OXEssays and Assignment Help. “Our minds are designed to recognize patterns and when stimulus dwindles our ability to discern patterns, however rudimentary, can become severely impaired.”
For me this lead to a serious, permanent decline in mental ability. Pattern recognition is crucial to memory function, speech and motor function. Some of the effects associated with the decline of these functions show a confluence with the symptoms of dementia and bad mental health.
Depression
The issues listed above undoubtedly resulted in mood changes as well. Low mood lead to some severe mental health problems. Many elderly people suffer from depression, and yet through isolation, this depression may end up remaining untreated. Without a social group around them, those who remain in extreme solitude are more likely to have high mortality rates.
The social uneasiness that often comes with isolation means that it becomes harder and harder for those suffering to reach out and seek support, whether it is from doctors, family or neighbors. Sadly, this can lead to suicide or death by self-negligence.
