As children, I’m not sure we really understand what isolation is, how we feel, or understand if we're feeling lonely. Without emotional support, we may all feel isolated from time to time.
Emotional Isolation
Emotional isolation can also occur through school, or the workplace – social isolation, where we feel mentally separated from others, even if we have a well-functioning social network.
Negative past experiences
Negative past experiences brought into a relationship, can be the trigger of negative thoughts and feelings and can add to relationship problems. We may feel isolated and may withdraw emotionally. We may also find it difficult to say how we feel.
Loneliness can Happen to Anyone
Anyone can be in a relationship and still feel lonely. And others may not understand. Loneliness is a feeling – we may feel lonely because a memory is triggered that makes us feel alone, not because we’re feeling lonely, or isolated. The brain will always try to make sense of the feeling and as a result we may start to ask questions, but the theories about why we’re feeling lonely or isolated, may become confused with the facts.
Disability
For people like me who deal with a disability, being isolated is par for the course. It's the nature of what a disability does. Add autism into the mix, and I am isolated and cut off.
I didn't receive any great amount of emotional support from my parents, I felt isolated pretty much from the beginning.
I also figured out that it wasn't such a bad thing, as my mother spent most of her time trying to brainwash me, so being invisible was a good thing.
I felt very isolated in my last relationship but that was because my ex-girlfriend treated me very poorly. Nothing I did was good enough for her.
After many years I got used to spending my time alone. It would be great and easier if I could connect with other people, but I don't imagine it being that way anytime soon.
Thanks Randy. Yes, you're definitely a good guy Randy. It's easier short term to ignore people like your ex, but long term it's never easy.
Isolating ourselves for short periods, helps us understand our life from the inside out, but it's not so easy to do that when you're in the thick of it.
From what you say Randy, it sounds as though you eventually drew your own conclusions on your relationship, and you called time. That's great.
Sometimes we just need a steely determination to say 'enough is enough.' It usually comes when we're at our wits end. If isolating ourselves helps with that, then I'm all for it.