Does being isolated cause you to deteriate mentally?

Question

I have been busy studying for the past 6 weeks. I have had hardly any contact with people except through Yahoo Answers for these past 6 weeks (except when I go to the store once each week).
I think I am starting to drift away or something. I feel like I am on another planet. My personality has changed. I study all day every day . Do you think if you had not any contact with anybody for a long time that you would be "losing it?" why does this occur?

Answer 1

You sound as though you are tired more than anything. You need some 'me' time badly, to see your mates and have some fun. I don't know what you are studying, but you do realise that if you get to be 'over-qualified', companies will be afraid to employ you because they won't be able to afford you.

Answer 2

I think you know the answer to your question, because it seems to be happening to you. Sometimes isolation can be good (as in the case of Thoreau), but only when it's desired. If you don't want to be alone and you are, then it's a problem. Without practice, social skills--like any other skill--become rusty. Even if you are not totally isolated, but only have casual contact with people, you can still suffer the side effects. It sounds as if you do not have close friendships, or else they would've dragged you out of your room/apt. by now. Try starting a casual conversation with someone in line at the store, or with a classmate. Even if you don't have a close friend, knowing that you will see a friendly face on a consistent basis can help. Gradually, you may come upon a friend. Hang in there!

Answer 3

Yahoo/Answers may be getting to you and I, but having visited in a nursing home quite frequently I feel that a lot of the sick and the elderly there who rarely have company or someone to talk to do deteriorate mentally.Can you imagine the loneliness of those places. The end of the line as some look at it. We must keep our minds active on whatever we are capable of. I am like my precious Mother who always said "before she goes to a nursing home, she would rather die first." There is no hope anymore. You are there at the mercy of many uncaring staff, handled any old way, they could care less if you are able to pick up your fork to eat. German roaches running all over the place. The people just give up. I have seen it happen all to often.~~~Sorry, I got off track somewhere and this subject really upsets me~~~~.

Answer 4

complete isolation from other human contact can make one abit 'funny', but i think in your case you've got study overload and an ennui has settled in. Take a break from your work and read a few comics, watch the telly, go out for a walk, or to the pub, phone mates, mix with people, you'll feel fine again in no time. Good luck.

Answer 5

Do not isolate yourself.You already know that it is not good for you are you would not be asking the question.
I really believe it is healthy to have friends and contact with people even if you just go to a mall or somewhere where there are people. Get out and you will look at life in general in a brighter light.

Answer 6

You should definitely take some time for yourself. It's good for you to keep yourself socially and emotionally stimulated. Try at least giving yourself a Saturday afternoon to hang out with some friends, visit family, go for a hike, whatever. You will be much better off if you give yourself a break once in a while.

Good job on the excellent dedication and will power by the way. It will for sure pay off!

Answer 7

I think what you experiencing is a bout of depression. Take a break. All the studying and the need to succeed is overwhelming you. Their is a Dr. Ornish that has an interestingly similar story. Check out his article....The Healer Of Hearts. I think the similarity will strike you, however, until you get to it or before you get to it, allow yourself some time away from the books.

Answer 8

It is common even in the prison system that isolation must not last longer than 30 days, longer and the person will start to withdraw and forget all inter-social skills. there have been cases in America where one man was kept in isolation for years and ended u[p committing a murder in prison as he was unable to accustom himself with social activity

Answer 9

There is a condition called cabin fever caused my long perods of isolation.

Cabin fever, while not an actual disease as the name suggests, is a state of restlessness, depression and irritability brought on by an extended stay in a confined space or a remote, isolated area. The lack of environmental stimulation can have real, tangible side effects that have a detrimental impact on anyone suffering from cabin fever. There is little documented evidence, but many speculate that those who may already be mentally unbalanced can be dramatically affected by cabin fever.

Historians speculate that the term cabin fever was first used to describe early U.S. settlers who experienced long winters in their log cabins, snowed in until the spring thaw. The term is dated to the 19th century by the American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms and is first recorded in 1918, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary. Suffering from cabin fever is similar to going stir crazy, a term that originates from a mid-19th century slang term, stir, which meant "prison". Stir crazy was typically used to describe the behavior exhibited by inmates in prison suffering from the effects of a long incarceration.

The origins of the term may also date from the time of frequent oceanic crossings, when people endured the long passage across the Atlantic in small, cramped quarters below the deck of a ship. In addition, during outbreaks of disease, people were often confined or quarantined to their homes in the effort to prevent its spread. Cabin fever would have surely been a result in either of these situations.

Cabin fever is such a universal affliction that movies and books have dramatized its sometimes horrifying effect on people and their mental state. Stephen King’s The Shining is a perfect example of how isolation can drive a person mad. The family in the film is holed up in a remote hotel resort, snowed in until spring. Add isolation, lack of entertainment and a supernatural presence, and madness ensues. Other story plots have explored how extended space missions can cause cabin fever, and the theme has also been dealt with in a recent storyline on The Simpsons television show.

In areas of the world where snow piles up all winter long, driving people indoors, cabin fever is a real issue. In addition to long periods of time confined to a small space, the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) exacerbate cabin fever. Many people suffer from SAD during the winter months, when sunny days are few and far between, and they sink into a very real depression.

Those especially susceptible to cabin fever are children who are confined to the house during rain or cold weather. Also, stay-at-home moms have long bemoaned the cabin fever they suffer from when confined to the house without adult interaction. Passive entertainment from television and video games may pass the time, but don’t provide the active, interactive entertainment that people crave.

Reading, board games and card games may help, but getting outdoors and engaging in physical activity may be the only real “cure.” Many people who live in the northern U.S. cross-country ski, snowshoe or snowmobile as outdoor activities. Calling a friend, or simply trying to get a change of scenery, may help as well.

Answer 10

six weeks of isolation to help you study isnt going to cause you any ill effects, there are people in this world who are very lonely and isolated permanently, this kind of isolation can bring about mental health problems perhaps, but not self imposed isolation for a couple of months.