What are the Effects of Social Isolation?
Depression has become more and more well-known in our society and people have been more open to discuss their struggles with it. There are various symptoms that can occur in depression, but the American Psychiatric Association includes symptoms such as feeling sad or down, loss of interest in activities, feeling worthless or guilty and difficulty concentrating. However one of the symptoms that impacts us as well as our close friends and family is social isolation.
Have you felt like you are around tons of people at work or at school or even in the grocery store but feel so alone? Imagine being in a grocery store and seeing about 20 people in the aisles, now think about how almost half of them are experiencing a form of depression or the feeling of loneliness. The American Psychological Association provided various surveys and studies of adults in America in 2018 that most individuals don’t feel their relationships are meaningful and that they feel isolated. When we feel like we want to remove ourselves from our people or that we are isolated, it can create a cycle of slipping into unhealthy habits like less exercise, not going out to try new things, turning to smoking or drinking alcohol more frequently, or eating more than we should. If you experience any panic or anxiety thinking about being with others or feeling like you’d rather cancel plans than spend time with others, you might be letting depression win. So how do you take control in small areas of your life to create space for yourself and others in a healthy manner?
How to navigate social isolation:
Engage in relaxing activities such as stretching, listening to music, reading a good book, meditation, journaling and other hobbies that can relieve stress associated with isolation.
Create a daily routine and follow it with purpose
Eat well, get enough sleep and engage in physical activity to promote the betterment of your health.
Stay connected to others as best you can through in person contact, phone calls, texting, sending funny memes through social media or doing a video call with friends while playing games.
Be in the loop on people’s lives, knowing what they have going on help you feel included in their lives and creates other talking points and shows you are care and are interested in them.
So how about today, you start with something small like creating a list of things you find enjoyment in and what is one or two things you can do each day to help you alleviate depressive symptoms? For me, I have to get 10 minutes of walking in the sun daily and read a fiction book before bed, so what would be yours? If you are struggling with coming up with ways to be more present with others, seek out a professional to get assistance. We would love to help you create a list of options that work best for you since you are the expert on you! Feel free to reach out to one of our therapists at the Arlington office, in person or virtually to get set up!
References:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/social-isolation-loneliness-older-people-pose-health-risks
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
