Have you been feeling lonely lately? Do you miss your friends or family all-day-long? The global pandemic has been harsh on the entire world. The lack of social contact and global lockdown during the pandemic has led to many psychological consequences. Some people lost their jobs and went through financial difficulties, while others still grieve over their loved ones’ death. And the worst part, everyone had to go through this rough patch of life alone, affecting their mental well-being.
Most people like living on their terms, but gradually, isolation becomes distressing, especially when you disconnect from the outside world. At times, people drown themselves in depression because of their inability to deal with loneliness. Likewise, they also tend to overthink everything, resulting in anxiety and panic attacks.
Usually, no control over the situation can also make you feel emotionally different. After all, humans are social creatures. Our biological and cognitive functions revolve around social groups and interactions with each other. Thus, isolation brings an adverse effect of anxiety, loneliness, and various mental health issues. If you don’t know much about it, have a look below. Here we are unfolding how isolation affects human psychology.
1. Depression & Anxiety
Do you enjoy your company? People believe they can live alone forever, but after spending months locked inside homes, almost everyone’s perception is changing. People miss being around their friends and family members. As a result, they are going into a depressive stage. People have also started worrying about every small thing in their lives. Moreover, they overthink and create imaginary situations in their mind, which damages mental health. It makes them anxious while giving a feeling of loss of control.
Once the pandemic is over, we would see an upsurge in mental health issues, mainly due to social isolation. Thus, if you believe in making a difference, now is the time. You can opt for a bachelors in psychology as a career pathway to develop a deeper understanding of human behavior. It would equip you with psychological principles to help people overcome depression and anxiety and adjust to the new normal.
2. Increases Risk of Dementia
Besides mental health issues, loneliness can have other significant consequences. It can affect the brain’s cognitive functioning – how we think, our attention span, and concentration levels. Above all, it exposes people to the risk of dementia, leading to long-lasting cognitive damage. It impairs a person’s ability to think, remember, and make day-to-day decisions in life.
Recently, a study found a direct link between loneliness and dementia since individuals living in isolation had a 40% higher risk of dementia. Therefore, if you are becoming forgetful about routine things and tasks, consult a practitioner. You can also use innovative gadgets to catch up with old pals or family members to break life’s lonely cycle. In addition to improving mental well-being, talking to other people is super refreshing for the brain.
3. Sleep Disruption
These days, every health professional associates health issues with isolation and loneliness. After all, there is a general assumption that people suffering from mental and physical health issues are likely to be lonely. As researchers explore a connection between disrupted sleep patterns and loneliness, all beliefs seem to be true. Sleep has a direct impact on health, but unfortunately, it gets compromised due to feelings of loneliness.
Isolation doesn’t lead to insomnia but awakens individuals multiple times in their sleep. According to the findings of research studies, participants reported having more broken-up sleep during the night. Participants reported having more broken-up sleep during the night. Also, they encountered disruptions in their sleeping cycles and a feeling of uneasiness before dawn.
4. Increases Inflammation
Mostly, people living alone have higher chances of inflammation and low activity of anti-viral genes. Isolation and loneliness can increase motion in the sympathetic nervous system. It is the part of the brain that gives flight or fight response to stressful situations. And since loneliness affects this part of the brain, it releases excessive stress hormones. This pattern causes inflammation in the adrenal axis, leading to changes in stress response, emotions, and mood.
Before loneliness prolongs and becomes chronic, find ways to socialize. It doesn’t mean you have to go out and hang out with people. You can use perks of technology such as video conferencing applications to communicate with others. It would boost the activity of anti-viral genes while diminishing motion in the nervous system.
Tips to Stay Healthy During Isolation
Once you understand the repercussions of isolation and loneliness, pull yourself out of the comfort zone and try to stay healthy. In addition to staying connected via technology, adopt a healthy routine to eliminate negative thoughts from your system. Here we are bringing five tips to stay mentally healthy during social isolation.
- Exercise: Believe it or not, exercising can significantly help in reducing stress. It boosts endorphins – the happy hormones in the body and decreases tension. You can either have a medium to intensive workout at home or go jogging. It maintains muscle strength while keeping people busy. Besides, the fatigue from exercise can help you sleep better.
- Stay in Touch with Loved Ones: Undoubtedly, not meeting friends and family is quite upsetting, but it doesn’t mean you have to halt all social contacts. Create a family or friends’ group on social media and update everyone about your day. You can also see how others are passing their time and learn a thing or two from them.
- Connect with Nature: Getting outdoors, taking a sunbath, and relaxing in a green space can improve mood. It fosters activity in the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain linked with anxiety. Also, you can listen to natural sounds of birds chirping or rain to relax the brain.
- Meditate: Surprisingly, meditation can reduce anxiety and depression. Breathing therapies clear up the brain, making people fresh and more resilient.
- Try a New Hobby: Humans have many hidden trying talents, so why not try exploring some? You can give a shot to calligraphy, painting, cooking, photography, or play sports. Hence, if you have a backyard, turn it into a badminton, basketball, or football court.
These activities stimulate the production of neurotransmitters that promote mental health and stability.
Final Words
Isolation can be dreadful for humans, leading to a plethora of mental and physical health issues. The lack of social contact affects the brain’s cognitive functioning, whereas insufficient physical activity makes muscles rusty. Instead of letting this affect your well-being, pull yourself out of this isolation. Stay in touch with your friends and family members, exercise regularly, and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Besides mental well-being, it can also improve your overall lifespan.