Isolation

​I was flicking through a book recently and a chapter title caught my attention.  It was “Isolation and Involvement.”  I reckon I have heard the word “Isolation” more in the last two months than I have in my lifetime (contrary to what might be the opinion of some, we are not talking centuries).
We gotta do what we gotta do.  An unseen enemy is hard to deal with.   I would rather come out of isolation to late than too early though.  At least late the problem potentially has been dealt with.  Early and the problem could multiply.
The guy quoted a Dr. Philip Zimbardo who is a professor of psychology at Stanford.  He says “I know of no more potent killer than isolation.  There is no more destructive influence on physical and mental health than the isolation of you from me and of us from them.  It has been shown to be a central agent in the etiology of depression, paranoia, schizophrenia, rape, suicide, mass murder…”
I wish he would not use words I had never heard.  Even Microsoft Word put a red line under it.  I looked up “etiology” and it means “Science dealing with the causes of physical and mental disorders.”  Could have just said that.
It is totally necessary we isolate.  But it would be unhealthy to have it continue. Pandemics in the past have been dealt with by isolation (while the cure is looked for).  In North Queensland where I am from, I remember having an Island pointed out to me as a former leper colony.  They would isolate lepers for the benefit of the wider community.
The author was talking about how so much that is good is being used to create distance between us.  T.V., headphones, mobiles, that extra bathroom.  Fine in themselves, but they can be used to isolate.  I remember a guy in Japan that had not left his room in two years.  He had all he needed on hand.  He did not need to interact with any physical people.
Then there is the opposite of isolation which needs to be dealt with.  That is couples and families spending all their time together.  That can be unhealthy too.  Some time is good.  Too much is bad.
A person in family planning was talking about this.  They said in healthy relationships each partner brings their own experiences to the table.  These include work, hobbies, and activities that don’t necessarily involve the partner.  There is always something fresh to share.  To me all partnerships though involve choice.  Some choose to allow their own interests to be reason for terminating their involvement with another.
My problem with isolation is that like anything too much of it is unhealthy.    There are times though I want to withdraw from people and involvement.  I like a choice though.  At the moment there is no alternative.
I like the term “Physical distancing” rather than “Social distancing.”  Man is a social animal.  All the zoom meetings are not just about work and money.  Many are just a reaching out.  We all desire contact.  I really like one sentence of the author, “The only escape from indifference is to think of people as our most cherished resource.”
To me it all gets back to people not things matter most.  Isolation needs to be nipped in the bud (when it is not forced on us).  Some time alone is healthy.  Too much time alone is unhealthy.  From my experience people recognise when borders are crossed.