RELYING ON THE PACK

Humans are wired as “pack animals,” just like some of the other primates like gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos; we rely on close contact with members of our family, the circle of friends, or neighbors to balance our emotions, we rely on our pack.
Isolation can be emotionally heavy to handle, even those who prefer to be alone are finding that solitude just fits their preferences to some extend. After a certain period, it’s common to start experiencing a great variety of emotions: anger, sadness, anxiety, depression, frustration, and even sudden bursts of excitement. Often, all those emotions in a single day.

THE EFFECTS OF ISOLATION

Many studies validate that isolation isn’t good for anyone’s health. It raises levels of stress hormones, leading to poor sleep, and compromising the immune system. The effects of solitary confinement on the mental health of prison inmates have also been well-documented.

Studies conducted with humans have shown that extreme isolation has led to cases of impairing proper reasoning, analytic thinking for extended periods, and even hallucinations.

UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY

Technology offers a wide range of options to overcome isolation, at least to some degree. Online videogames, multi-personal chat rooms, and video calls are just some of the available tools we have. They allow us to reach out and make a connection with our loved ones. Since the current situation is unprecedented, there are not many studies on the details of how connecting electronically with other people can benefit our health. Still, it’s undeniable that we feel much better after speaking with a loved one after an extended time of isolation.

DEALING WITH THE MONOTONY OF ISOLATION

The sensory information available to us, and how we process it, can change in random ways. Under normal circumstances, we spend a vast amount of our time reacting to and processing external stimuli from our environment. Anyhow, monotonous surroundings may make us turn our attention inward, which most people much less experience handling.
The walk from the home office to the kitchen, or the bathroom, can be done just so many times before starting pushing our sanity. There are significant benefits to adding variation in our routines.
Physical activity is a contributor factor in helping us overcome the current events. A brief workout routine, jogging around the block, or engaging in a pushup, squats, walking lunges or crunches challenge among online friends can benefit our minds as much as our bodies.