WHERE are you?
Hey Dan here, I am here but where are you when you are within solitude ? –
My blogs are from personal experience or a topic I find of interest – today I want to talk about isolation and solitude tying in with loneliness;
I ask where are you when within solitude or isolation – by asking this I mean two things – Where are you physically, are you in a safe space? Maybe your room? And where are you within your mentality, here are you within pain or are you within peace.
When one goes within solitude / isolation they generally are within a period of darkness, either from past or present trauma;
Solitude, also known as social withdrawal, is a state of seclusion or isolation, meaning lack of socialisation. Effects can be either positive or negative, depending on the situation. Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may work, think, or rest without disturbance. It may be desired for the sake of privacy. Long-term solitude may stem from soured relationships, loss of loved ones, deliberate choice, infectious disease, mental disorders, neurological disorders such as circadian rhythm sleep disorder, or circumstances of employment or situation.
Isolation the act of isolating or the condition of being isolated, can be within quarantine. And can either be by choice or for a purpose.
Many studies show the impact that being alone for a long time can have on the mind – loneliness is one of the biggest triggers for suicidal thoughts and tendencies.
There are many reasons why an individual may be within solitude, they can be peaceful here as it could be by choice and a life preference and this is generally okay, but it can take its toll if you are not surrounded with much communications.
Another reason may be because as a child they were within this kind of setting, where they were always within solitude or isolation so now as an adult it has become a habit to be this way – this is generally okay but you do need to let people in and you do need to get out too.
Another reason may be, trauma. When within trauma, individuals need to understand and almost visualise there healing path, especially if previously experienced suicidal tendencies, you need to be prepared for the worst mind flip – you need to be able to safe guard yourself, this means being able to ground yourself and if you are not able to ground yourself ensure yourself that you have a contact that you can reach to, we have SAPUK for this.
If you are within pain when in solitude, I believe that you are in need to heal from something. Please reach out to help with the adjustments, my blog Navigating suicidal thoughts may be off help too, or my podcast that mirrors this blog.
Many people struggle with solitude as many people have never experienced having to be alone. Adults that have come from being within solitude as children generally find peace / cmfort within solitude. Adults who are within solitude who have never experienced being within solitude can sometimes struggle to process the ‘alone’ part – which is why it is so important to understand this part. We can sit with ourselves, here we learn the most, understand your triggers, learn the why and engage in connecting, many people are within a similar boat.
How do you come from solitude and isolation?
I think if you understand that you are within solitude and / or isolation and whether it is healthy to you or not, you can then understand how to overcome this if needs be.
Did you know that many people go out alone to the cinema or out to eat alone, walking alone is super normal too 😊
It is important that you reach out and talk to someone. I have experienced solitude and have experienced trying to come from it too, its difficult because you can get used to it. Try to not place any pressure on you showing up because honestly you will come from this when you are ready to. It took me a while to settle from each trauma to reach out from it – but I hope I can provide you with some tools if you are with solitude and isolation.
Always be kind to yourself – you are enough.
(seek positive affirmations)
Understand why you are within solitude?
Safeguard yourself, or understand how to safeguard yourself
(We have safety plans at SAPUK – jordeey@suicideapuk.co.uk)
Try and be productive, maybe do some creative work or writing
Do not put pressure on yourself to get out of solitude straight away
Seek connection
(new hobby or any local groups)
Understand the why (for the solitude) and then learn how to shift from the solitude.
I hope this helps anyone to directly understand solitude and isolation.