2024-01-13 09:04:29
Testimony » If social isolation tends to set in among older people, it is not absent among young people. “There are external factors as well as internal factors to social isolation,” explains Annette Cina, psychologist and psychotherapist. Typically, external factors such as working from home mainly affect older people. “Internal factors contributing to social isolation often stem from personality.” People with mental disorders will therefore have more difficulty seeking contact with others. Social anxiety or depression are examples of disorders and illnesses that can lead to isolation.
A basic need
“It is important to mention that social contacts are a main need that applies to everyone,” says Annette Cina. Social isolation is a personal feeling: there are no criteria to define whether a person suffers from it or not. “What characterizes isolation is a feeling of loneliness. We feel a lack of connections and attachment to others and we have the impression of not being surrounded enough,” explains the psychologist.
Although universal, the need for contact is different for everyone. Some people are happy with a small circle of friends, while others need a larger circle so they don’t feel alone.
“Fribourg is a small town where everyone knows each other. This oppresses me”
Olivia*
Olivia*, a 19-year-old Frenchwoman, moved to Friborg for her studies. She has already experienced social isolation in her country. At the age of 13, because of her anorexia, she was placed in a center. “To escape this vicious circle that is anorexia, I needed to be set apart,” confides Olivia. But this isolation quickly destroyed me too.” The internment caused him to lose all contact with his family and friends. “Every day was the same, I waited for the hours to pass without doing anything, but on the other hand, I was protected from society,” she says.
Reintegration
Separation from loved ones lasts until the age of 16. And reintegration into society is not easy. He must relearn how to live with others, how to communicate. “I always needed to be surrounded so as not to face loneliness. However, when there were too many people around me, I panicked and wanted to be alone,” says the student.
Olivia still experiences this situation of isolation today: “For me, Friborg is a small town where everyone knows everyone. This oppresses me, I have started to cut myself off from others once more.” Currently, she is trying to find some stability in her relationships, although the following-effects of social isolation still haunt her.
*Istaken first name
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#Isolation #destroyed #Liberté
