Are you someone who normally struggles with isolation, but the holidays add an extra layer of loneliness and pain to an already deprived existence? Do you tend to just hope that something or someone comes along to spring you out of your lonely cell of existence at this time of year to somehow break the uninterrupted sense of aloneness you experience?  All this has major implications for mental health which I go into below.

Isolation Has Become Epidemic in the Era of Covid

Our society was already prone to isolation before Covid struck, but since then we have become even more isolated even if you are a Covid-denier and flouted all the rules that went into effect once the lockdowns and quarantines started.  The fact of the matter is that something changed with Covid in how we relate to each other, and now that we are 2 years into the pandemic it has become even more ingrained.  We can no longer take live social interaction as part of a larger community with others for granted, if we ever did.  We’re either talking to each other through a mask, or on a Zoom link, or are wondering why someone isn’t wearing a mask around us (or why they are wearing one).  The whole landscape of social interaction has changed in other words.

How Isolation is Bad for Mental Health, Especially During Holiday Times

Isolation is a major contributor to depression, addiction issues, fear, and developing feelings of racist bigotry towards others.  All of those are bad for mental health, and at a time when people are ‘supposed’ to be cheerful it can make people especially out of step with others.  We need to feel part of a larger community as social beings and can easily fall prey to dark moods or influences if we don’t have some meaningful connection to others who are supportive and positive influences in our lives.  The examples of those who overdose on opioids or other drugs is abundant, as well as those who suffer from major depression during the holidays, and those who wind up getting involved in extremist movements because they need some way to feel connected to others and the only thing they can find is others who are as given over to fear, ignorance, and isolation as they are via social media.

How To Fight Isolation During the Holidays:

1.  Reach out to others who care about you and are positive:  these could be trusted friends and family, but they don’t have to be.  There are plenty of self-help support groups that meet regularly online or in person and are especially important during the holidays.

2. Force yourself to engage with these individuals on a regular basis, be it once a day or once a week:  whatever your schedule can afford.

3. Make the most of opportunities to make small talk with others.  You may not be a social butterfly, but if you do go out of your 4 walls and get an opportunity to chat about something-- anything-- go ahead and do it.  You will probably feel less isolated and more a part of the human race, as well as less fearful of others. 

4. Use stronger forms of communication if possible.  Depending on your means and safety precautions during the pandemic, face-to-face interactions could be prohibitive.  The closer you can get to face-to-face the better, though.  Communicating via social media post is probably the weakest of all, however, and is much less personal.  

If You Still Can’t Escape the Grip of Isolation…

One other thing to bear in mind is that the holidays are hard for just about everyone, not just you.  However, if you continue to suffer from isolation and feel depressed or are dealing with addictive and compulsive behavior then you very well may need professional help.  I’ve been helping people overcome isolation and related mental illness my entire social work career and would be happy to give you a 20-minute free consultation to get a better idea about whether I could help you or not.  Just call the number at the top of the page or fill out the inquiry form below and I will get back to you as soon as possible to help you escape from the grips of isolation.  No man or woman is an island, and we all need others.  That is especially true at this time for our world and our nation!

Visit our page on depression therapy to find out more about how Scott can help you overcome isolation.  

About the author:  Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland.  He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin.  He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice. His most recent book is titled The 5 Pillars of Addiction Recovery and is available for purchase on Amazon and in paperback on this website.