This chapter explores the concept of isolation and its effects on the brain. It discusses the importance of social interaction, shares personal experiences of living in isolation, and highlights the challenges it brings.
Over the past few weeks many of us have been living more isolated lives than we’re used to. We might not be in government-mandated quarantine but there’s no doubt that COVID-19 has upended our social lives. Yet isolation can be deeply troubling for humans because we’re social animals; and that’s just as true in our current circumstances as it is in very extreme forms of isolation.