Why Do People Isolate Themselves

Why Do People Isolate Themselves?

Listening to the sounds of nothingness it’s what has kept me alive for so long. I thought I was never going to make it to 18 and yet, here I am in my 20s. What a wild ride that has been.

Life it’s hard…extremely hard and sometimes we like to take time for ourselves, but why do people isolate themselves?

Why Do I Isolate Myself?

Isolation, my personal description of salvation. Having to deal with heavy things, lifelong lasting traumas and mental health as it’s own, it’s really easy to get lost in the insides of your subconscious. What does that mean? Let me explain it to you – do keep in mind that this is only a perspective from someone whose been in this situation – the human brain is a really sensitive organ, it’s what basically controls every aspect of our lives. The way we talk, the way we act, the way we form solid relationships and the way we communicate with others, it’s all based on our mind’s reactions to the messages our brains are sending us.

So, why do people isolate themselves? It’s it because they don’t want to be around you? Because they’re lazy? Or because they’re afraid that people won’t understand?

It Has Nothing To Do With You

As I’ve said in previous posts, mental illnesses have a huge impact on a person’s life. Their inner life and the outside life. What do I mean by that? Well, along the years, I’ve learned that we all carry secrets. We’re all pushing something aside from our life, because we don’t ant to be related to that experience, nor do we want other people to know about those dark passengers.

Those dark passengers can be associated with depression, trauma, anxiety, bipolar disorder, an eating disorder, secrets that we’re too scared to share, because of the fear of rejection, or we’re just ashamed ofa certain situation. You can’t change those feelings. No one can.

Carrying those baggages on a daily basis can be some of the most draining things to do, believe me, I know. Hiding from everyone around us just so we can let those dark passengers get the best of us, because honestly, we just don’t want to get other people involved. We don’t want to be a burden in other people’s journey through life, and you know, that seems understandable. We’re so used to bottling everything inside that we forgot how to efficiently communicate with others.

But…I’m surrounded by People

Sure, being physically somewhere and emotionally in the same place is not always what it seems.

Just because I laugh, make jokes, smile and go out, that doesn’t mean that I’m not isolating myself. You see, I have always had this line of thought where isolation is mostly emotionally related. We often get so attached to people, but we rely on regret when we’re trying to be vulnerable with someone; just because we’re feeling that they’re getting too close to us, so we rather hide away than face the situation.

Living an isolated life means that you’re stuck in the same cycle. You don’t open up to anyone because you’re scared of the consequences, you feel like you’re just being a burden to someone else’s life, it feels like you can’t trust anyone, much less be able to feel comfortable enough to be surrounded by other people’a presence. Its scary to think that another human being can trigger something inside of you, or just flip on the switch on your social anxiety.

I believe that people who live in isolation are mirrored by the reflection of their brain functions and their mentality. Therefore, things such as depression, anxiety, abuse, bullying, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, or any other type of disorder and mental illness, can lead to isolation due to the stigma these conditions have over the human brain.

“There is robust evidence that social isolation and loneliness significantly increase risk for premature mortality, and the magnitude of the risk exceeds that of many leading health indicators” – Julianne Holt-Lunstad

Statistics

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), loneliness can be more dangerous than obesity and it can also be as damaging to someone’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

There is also a 45% of mortality rates that have increased in seniors who have reported feeling lonely. Another 43% of seniors feel lonely on a daily basis.

Scary numbers, right? Imagine the percent some of those statistics may look like – because we still don’t have concrete numbers – of course, those that I mentioned have been proved, but what about all the people that didn’t participate, or open up about their experiences? The numbers must be a lot higher. This is not only a physical endangerment, but also an emotional one; meaning that the signs aren’t often seen.

How To Avoid Isolation?

It’s not an easy subject to just blast out some reasons of how to avoid it, and that’s because it’s different for everyone. I won’t say “go out more and be more social” or “trust people and open up” because that’s not how it works. Of course, you can take small steps towards getting outside of your comfort zone and the environment you’re used to, but that takes time. I’ve been dealing with isolation for the past 11 years and I can’t seem to find a way of getting out of this cycle. I still do normal everyday things, but I honestly just prefer being alone. Keep in mind, it’s different for everyone. Sure, some symptoms might be the same, but the reaction to the situation can vary from person to person.

Stress is a really common factor in these types of situations and I know it only makes things worse. Talking with someone about these type of things can be scary, I’ve been there. You can actually find professional help online. What does that mean? That means that if you’re scared to see an actual therapist, you can find one online that best fits you. It’s all up to you.

Why do people isolate themselves? There’s a different response to this question. A lot of possibilities and not so much attention towards this dangerous topic.

Just remember that you’re not alone.