Contact with other people is crucial for our mental health and promotes both our emotional and physical well-being. But not everyone is lucky enough to have good friends and family in their immediate environment.
Social isolation- What is it?
Social isolation is a condition in which a person has little or no social contact with other people or withdraws from social activities and interactions. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as work overload, geographical distance from friends and family, mental health problems or even voluntary decisions to withdraw from society. It is important to note that social isolation is not only the physical absence of people around us, but also the lack of social interaction and emotional connection. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or social status.
The unseen consequences
The effects of social isolation on mental health are varied and can be severe. Loneliness, for example, is a common result of social isolation and can lead to depression, anxiety and a general feeling of hopelessness. People in social isolation also tend to experience increased stress, which in turn can have a negative impact on physical health. Cognitive impairment can also be another unseen consequence of social isolation.
The difference between loneliness and social isolation?
Loneliness is a subjective feeling or emotional experience. It occurs when a person feels alone, isolated and alienated from others, even when surrounded by other people. Loneliness is a negative emotional reaction to the lack of social connection and support.
It is important to understand that a person can be socially isolated without feeling lonely. Conversely, someone who is surrounded by many people can still be lonely. Loneliness is therefore more a question of personal perception and emotional reaction to the social situation, while social isolation refers to actual social interaction or the lack thereof.
Ways to cope with social isolation
Social isolation cannot always be avoided due to certain life circumstances. However, if it has a negative impact on our mental and/or physical health, there are things we can do to minimize the consequences and help us regain more social interaction:
- Maintain social contacts: Social media, video calls and phone calls can help you stay in touch (even at a distance) and share your feelings, worries and thoughts with friends and/or family.
- Self-care: Allowing ourselves “me-time” and taking good care of ourselves can help us to lift our mood, be more relaxed and create capacity for social contact. For example, while we are cooking something delicious, doing sport or similar, we recharge our batteries and then look forward to spending time with others again.
- Prioritize mental health: If we are not feeling well and we feel that being alone is not always good for us, we should not hesitate to get help and seek professional support. Talking to counseling centers or therapists can help.
- Daily structure: Maintaining a daily structure that includes regular activities and breaks is important to help us feel safer and take good care of ourselves.