Solitude: Social Isolation And Clinical Depression

Solitude is the state, one-time or permanent, of a single individual who is engaged in any relation with others. Loneliness has a different meaning depending on whether it is chosen or endured. Thus, the isolation or others concerning state distancing can have beneficial effects on the individual, but also harmful. Loneliness has also been described as a social suffering - psychological mechanism alerting an individual to an unwanted isolation and motivation to seek a social connection.

First of all, an individual can experience loneliness for many reasons and because of factors related to them, as a lack of social relationship in childhood and adolescence, or the physical absence of others. However, loneliness may be a symptom of another
social or psychological problems such as chronic depression. Many individuals are experiencing loneliness for the first time when they were babies. It is also common, but often temporary, that these consequences are linked to a breakup, divorce, loss of a loved one, or more generally a major loss of human relationship. The loss of an important person in the life of another typically creates a psychological response to bereavement; in this situation, the individual feels lonely even when surrounded. Loneliness can also occur after childbirth and after marriage or other disruptive events, such as moving from one city to another which called homesickness. Loneliness can occur in unstable households or other similar relationships, during which feelings such as anger can be felt, or during which love cannot be given or received. Loneliness can present a communication malfunction, and can also occur in an individual living in a place where the population density is low (or high but where no one is inclined to the discussion), in which he can really build link.

Second o all, Loneliness is perceived as a social dysfunction and can extend very quickly. It can also be linked to behavioral problems or unemployment. It would also have a strong correlation with low self-esteem, shyness, conscience, introversion and lack of assurance. Chronic loneliness is a threatening condition for the lives of others. A study shows that loneliness is associated with a high risk of cancer, and especially for those who hide their loneliness and is also risk factors for stroke and heart disease vascularize. Therefore, it increases the risk of mortality of these maladies. A significant and severe loneliness can be an extremely painful experience and can cause serious psychological damage. Therefore, loneliness is related to depression, and is the risk factor for the suicide. Socially isolated individuals may have poor sleep quality. Loneliness is also related to a schizoid disorder in which an individual experienced an alienation. Also it can play an important role in alcohol and drug addiction. In children, a lack of social connections is directly related to many antisocial and self-destructive behavior and can lead to particular hostility and crime. In children and adults, loneliness often has an impact in understanding and memory.

Third of all, Loneliness can also significantly affect the sleep.
In addition, there are different ways to treat loneliness, social isolation and clinical depression. The first step is that doctors recommend therapy. The therapy is a common way, sometimes successfully, to treat loneliness. Short-term therapy, the most common way to treat patients suffering from loneliness and depression typically lasts 10 to 20 weeks. During therapy, the focus is to understand the causes of this solitude; try to identify negative thoughts, the status of emotions and explore different ways to help the patient. Some doctors also recommend group therapy in order to help the patient to make contact with other patients with the same disease psychologique20. Doctors often prescribe antidepressants to patients as a standard treatment or in conjunction with therapy. This usually takes time before the patient find the right antidepressant. Some patients may develop resistance to certain medications and need to take a break periodically during the decision-prescribed drugs.

Finally, alternative approaches are also suggested for treating depression due to loneliness. These treatments may include exercise, diet, hypnosis, electroconvulsive therapy, acupuncture, herbal remedies, and other alternative kinds. Another treatment used to treat depression is loneliness and animal therapy. Some studies show that the presence of a pet such as dogs, cats, rabbits and even guinea pigs can reduce feelings of depression and loneliness among some patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are lots of benefits to feel the presence of a
pet.

To sum up, solitude seems to be a psychological state unequivocally that the disadvantages are more dominant than the benefits. Therefore, it is dangerous to the systematic search for itself as it can become pathological.