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Here’s How Social Isolation Affects Your Health

Many of us experienced social isolation during the recent pandemic. And none of us will deny that those days and weeks were very hard. Thankfully, the pandemic is over, and life for most of us has returned to normal.

But for some people, social isolation does not go away; it is now part of their “normal” existence.

Common Causes of Social Isolation

There are a variety of circumstances that cause people to be isolated from others or to choose to isolate themselves:

  • An abusive relationship – People in toxic relationships often choose to avoid contact with friends and family because they wish to hide their reality from others.
  • Grief – It is common to isolate oneself after losing a loved one. This is particularly true for many seniors who have lost many loved ones and friends.
  • Mental health issues – Anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem can often result in a desire to isolate oneself from the rest of society.
  • Physical challenges – Those with limited mobility or other physical challenges may decide life is easier and safer at home.

The Effects of Social Isolation on Your Health

We know there is a strong mind-body connection. How we feel emotionally affects how we feel physically. Studies are now revealing how social isolation can negatively impact our health. Here are just some of the effects on your health:

  • Reduced immune function
  • Trouble sleeping (which leads to inflammation and disruption of hormones)
  • Poor cardiovascular health
  • Poor cognitive function
  • Greater chance of stroke
  • Decreased wound healing
  • Increased risk of dementia
  • Higher risks of premature mortality

Coping With Social Isolation

If you are isolated from others for any reason, it is important to recognize you may be suffering mentally, emotionally, and/or physically. Here are some ways you can cope with the situation:

  • Practice self-care
  • Get outside
  • Reconnect with hobbies and interests
  • Get help

If you would like to speak to someone about your anxiety or depression caused by isolation and the reasons for the isolation, please reach out to me. I offer online therapy for those who feel more comfortable accessing help from home.

SOURCES:

Understanding the Effects of Social Isolation on Mental Health

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/social-isolation-mental-health

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/isolation-and-mental-health

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Stress’s Physiological Impact on the Body

The old saying goes, “Into every life, a little rain must fall.” Stress is like rain. A little of it can be a good thing. But too much can cause havoc and devastation.

Our bodies are designed to handle a little bit of acute or sudden stress. But when stress is prolonged or becomes chronic, it can devastate our health.

Here are just some of the ways stress can negatively impact your body:

Respiratory Issues

Prolonged stress can lead to respiratory issues such as shortness of breath. Individuals who do not have an underlying respiratory disease may not be very impacted. But for those with pre-existing conditions such as COPD and asthma, stress can dangerously exacerbate the situation.

Heart Health

When we are stressed, we are in fight or flight mode. This causes our heart to beat faster and our blood vessels to dilate. In short-term scenarios, these physical manifestations help get us out of danger.

But for prolonged periods, this can put a lot of stress on our heart and blood vessels, potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke.

Gut Health

Did you know that 80% of your immune system is located in your gut? It’s incredibly important to ensure your gut is healthy!

But chronic stress can wreak havoc on your gut by changing the beneficial gut bacteria, and a change in this bacteria can negatively impact your mood. Consequently, when you’re already feeling stressed, the last thing you need is also to feel depressed.

Sexual Health

The nervous system influences both the male and female reproductive systems. When we are stressed, our sexual hormones can get out of balance, and we can lose sexual desire. Men may find it hard to achieve and maintain an erection. Stress can also make it hard to conceive and affect a woman’s menstrual cycle.

As you can see, stress can really negatively impact your physical health. While we cannot stop the rain from falling or stress from entering our lives, we can practice healthy stress management. That means eating right, getting enough exercise, and getting quality sleep each night.

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Psychiatry and Medication Management

The goal of many psychiatrists is to help their patients without needing medication. But, there are instances where medication can be incredibly helpful in healing. 

While some patients require only one medication for a short duration, others may require multiple prescriptions over longer periods. Regardless of how long a person may need to take a medication, management of medicines is essential in their treatment plan.

What is Medication Management in Psychiatry?

Medication management is a process that ensures patients are taking the right medication at the exact right dose for their specific situation. Typically, a psychiatrist will start a new patient on the dose and type of medication that has worked well for similar patients in the past. But numerous follow-up appointments will be scheduled after the initial assessment to ensure the patient’s symptoms are being controlled without any unwanted side effects. 

A person may be on a specific dosage of a specific medication for years and be fine. But the body is constantly changing, and it may eventually adapt to a specific dose, so the psychiatrist will want to routinely evaluate and adjust when needed.

What Types of Mental Health Issues Can be Treated with Medication?

Many mental health conditions can be treated with therapy alone. In some cases, such as with a phobia, a prescription can help to take the edge off while the therapy is doing the heavy lifting.

There are those times, however, when medications may play a larger role. For instance, if someone is experiencing depression because of a chemical imbalance, there may need to be a reliance on medication first to rebalance the mind.

If you are suffering from depression, anxiety, or any other mental health issue and you wonder if medication might help, your best course of action is to work with a licensed therapist who can assess you and make the proper treatment recommendations.

Please email my office if you’d like to explore treatment options.

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Neurodivergence’s Impact on Mental Health

When we speak about human behavior or ways of being in the world, we have traditionally described someone as having normal behavior or abnormal behavior. Recently, mental health experts have begun to look at things in a broader, more inclusive scope.

What Does Neurodivergent Mean?

Neurodivergent is a term used to describe someone who either behaves in a specific way or processes information in a specific way that differs from cultural norms. It is an important shift in the mental health community because it allows clinicians to discuss diagnoses, such as autism, in a way that doesn’t portray the diagnosis as an illness or problem to be dealt with. In addition to autism, other diagnoses may be considered a form of neurodivergence, such as ADHD, any learning disability, dyslexia, and Tourette’s syndrome.

Benefits of Neurodiversity

Much of the world has embraced cultural diversity. We have been taught that diversity is our greatest strength. Well, people are finally starting to realize that this concept goes beyond just cultural diversity and should extend to the diversity of thought and being as well. Neurodiversity can actually be beneficial to society because different ways of thinking and looking at the world bring different perspectives and insights to the table.

Temple Grandin is a perfect example. Temple is autistic, and her unique perspective and way of thinking allowed her to revolutionize the practices for the humane handling of livestock.

Instead of stigmatizing people who have been diagnosed with a “cognitive disorder,” we must encourage them to embrace their differences and share their unique insights and perspectives with the world.

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(407) 986-2888
alan@azupkacounseling.com