Why does seclusion and isolation from people make a person breakdown mentally?

Meaning the person's mental functioning deteriorates and they become another person almost .


Anybody with experience or know of this?Why does seclusion and isolation from people make a person breakdown mentally?
We are social creatures, born to interact with our fellow humans in varying degrees. Without human companionship we lose our sense of our individuality and our sense of worth. In relationships we satisfy many of our deepest psychological needs that enable to function properly.


I have tried to dis-engage from society and be a recluse. It doesn't work and can drive you nuts.Why does seclusion and isolation from people make a person breakdown mentally?
I would think , if you like yourself, then it should not be


a problem spending time alone....
You tell me
';No man (or woman) is an island.'; J.C. We were designed to interact with one another with loving words and acts and failing to do that results in all sorts of mental disorders. In WWII the Nazi medical establishment tried keeping babies well fed from birth but excluded from any human interaction other than that necessary to feed and diaper them. They just deteriorated and many died. It goes on for life. You have a continuing basic need to get from someone a verification that your existence matters.
Firstly, someone's self-perception of their identity is likely to change over time anyway. Periods of significant change can influence the momentum of this, such as after life changing events, such as trauma etc. Of course, some people are more active in their desire for, and participation in social interaction. The same event will affect different people in varyng ways, we can only generalise.





It could be viewed that a contrasting period of isolation, following life-long social interaction, would of itself be traumatic: thus creating velocity leading to personal changes, of behaviour, perceived identity, beliefs about self etc. Such trauma could induce fear, potentially of people.





Animals generally have a need for social interaction, with some animals requiring more than others and their insticts pushing them towards close-knit, highly organised groups (Bees etc). Humans seem to be one of these, so it could be argued that we merely have an inbuilt need for social interaction and the benefits that it brings us.





Studies on animals show that animals starved of attention/care from others can actually lose their health and wellbeing and potentially die sooner, than those that have continuous loving care and contact.





From a survival perspective, animals - incl humans- who have social groupings and interaction are likely to be better able to cope or get another group member to cater for the gaps in their own skillsets, than those who are alone. It is also likely therefore to be a genetic benefit to pass this need for social inclusion on to offspring, so that a need for socialisation is inherent from birth. Evolution at work? Probably. Those in groups were more likely to suffer attacks, death etc than those in groups.





There are few facts about people and their behaviour. We only really have best guesses and theories. I hope these ideas go some way toward answering your question.





ie.


* primitive, inherited inbuilt need for social contact,


* trauma generally induced when shocked with isolation following social interaction


* trauma of isolation increasing momentum of personal change of identity, of self-beliefs/perception, beliefs about others, as well as someone's skillset not meeting their needs for continuous isolation.


*Isolation may also conflict markedly with someone's decisions about their chosen lifestyle, further degrading someone's mental well-being.


* Chronic inner conflict/dissonance is also not psycholigically healthy.





Of course, this presupposes that our physical and psychological health are linked, which I strongly believe in.





Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob
Sounds like heaven to me!
I think if you spend too much time alone you think too much and your brain goes in to overdrive. Without other people to interact with we become self obsessed and every little thing we do or think seems massive. experiences and other people make us what we are, like it or not we need other humans!
If you are talking total seclusion and isolation from people as in completely separated it doesn't necessarily make a person breakdown mentally.





The hermits of Tibet would purposely be bricked up in the dark in a small area the size of a dunny for 30 days or more just to learn a particular meditation practise. The only contact they would know of would be the person who brought them fresh water every day through a hole in the wall. There would be no exchange of conversation.





Sometimes it is what the person thinks about during times of isolation that determines if they have a mental breakdown I think.





It is rare for an adult to have total seclusion and isolation from people. Most people will have the opportunity to talk to a stranger or walk out in a crowd, so there is no need to be totally secluded and isolated.





Even if treking up the Amazon where people are few and far between, the mind would be focusing on survival and a person on their own may go a bit loopy - but I think it would be quite acceptable to start talking to the animals in that situation.





I think the person you describe already has a mental health problem, mixing with people may be helpful to them and I'm sure the DSS can provide a key worker to help the individual.