Feeling Cut Off in Self-Isolation? This is How Millions of Lonely People Feel Every Day

I guess we should count ourselves lucky; the ongoing nightmare that is COVID-19 couldn’t have happened at a better time in human history. Not only are we poised to learn a lesson or two about the stresses and strains of our modern world and the impact we have on our environment, but we’re blessed with being at the height of medicinal advances. And I guess it helps that we have Twitter too.

We are – if the experts and the hearsay are to be believed – only at the start of this extended sojourn, each of us quarantined in our homes like Netflix’s next extended social experiment. For some people, it seems they’ve already reached their limits; for others, it’s an ordinary Thursday, just like every other day.

According to a joint study by the Co-Op and British Red Cross, over 9 million UK adults class themselves as either always or often lonely – almost a sixth of the country’s population. For a small island nation firmly in the inner circle of developed nations, that’s a pretty staggering statistic. Suddenly, the idea that people are more connected than ever faulters somewhat.

As someone who has worked remotely for years – and who has suffered from loneliness and the insidious way it exacerbates itself by putting you off getting involved – it’s been something of a fascinating few days watching the outpouring of quarantine memes (quaran-memes? No? OK), jokes about isolation, and Madonna’s spiralling cabin fever. After all, this is kinda how I spend most of my days. Don’t feel sad for me though: I have friends I can contact, and I like my own company.

For others, however, every day is spent in isolation – a heart-wrenching reality probably compounded by the fact that they whole world just got a little lonelier overnight.

Something that has been positive, however, has been the dedication from people to support each other’s mental health in these trying times. It’s hard not to bump into a tweet about neighbours reaching out to one another, or a virtual pub quiz Facebook event, or even just friendly advice on staying sane in these unusual times.

They’re all friendly gestures which help to lighten the mood, but when this has all blown over and we emerge into a new normal, continuing to offer this support must continue. In fact, after spending some time in isolation, aware of how chronically lonely people of all ages spend their days, I would hope that we can all come out of this a little more enlightened about how the world works for other people.

In the meantime, let’s carry on supporting one another, keeping in touch with the amazing digital innovations we have at this point in human history, and looking out for each other’s mental health – but let’s also make sure we’re extending that to the people who, when the dust settles and we’re all outside, will still be in their own isolation.

AIMLESS is trying something new. The first of a new quarterly format is coming soon. Keep your eyes peeled for AIMLESS Vol. 1: ALONE IN 2020.