Are You Isolating Yourself?

Living Learning Loving,
Insights and Encouragement on the Path of Motherhood

The Flip Side of Solitude

It’s easier than I’d imagined for life to get out of balance. As much as I value solitude I must admit too much solitude can lead to social isolation.

Social isolation is a state of complete or near-complete lack of contact between an individual and society.

My isolation came on gradually over a period of years. I enjoyed days at home for weeks. I seldom shop so Amazon Prime is my friend. I did go to meetings, to church and on trips with my husband. We made a few trips a year to see grown children and grandchildren. I felt less and less interested in being with people. It wasn’t until my daughter confronted me that I began to realize how out of balance my life had become. At my age habits die-hard. But persistence lives on.

Do You Recognize the Early Signs of Social Isolation?

1. The thought of interacting with other people feels impossible
2. You feel generally anxious
3. You create reasons to justify your choosing to be alone
4. Leaving the house feels like stepping into the scary unknown
5. You get easily annoyed at people on your social network news feeds
6. You don’t want to arrange anything
7. You avoid doing anything that feels risky
8. You feel disconnected from and disenchanted with the world, and blame other people
9. Solitude is spent unproductively and in fear

How do you handle being alone? How do you embrace solitude? Can you accept time alone as an opportunity for growth?

Living Learning Loving Chapter One Video-“Living with Solitude”

Ware, Browning. Diary of a Modern Pilgrim. Imago Dei Publications 2003. p.43

I raised three children as a single mother before I remarried. I have experienced the potholes, pests, and perils of being the single head-of-household. As an educator in regular and special education for twenty years I know a great deal about child development and how to handle kids. I am the founder of SMORE for Women, a nonprofit whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. I’m also a Certified Professional Coach and my stories have been published in several Christian books and magazines. My book, Living Learning Loving is available on CreateSpace, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble online.