I think isolation is part of most lives in the world. Even when women or men have spouses, siblings, children, parents, there are still times when they feel isolated. I have a brother, and though he responds if I directly contact him he never initiates our talks. He would probably rationalize his actions by saying that he is (1) busy at his job (2) busy with his family (3) doesn't mean harm, but I am still not persuaded by these rationalizations, so I cut off ties with him. There was no serious abuse, but low-grade one-sided relationships. I tried to get support in feeling upset with my brother by talking with both my father and my therapist, but again neither of them made me feel supported and part of a team either. So I've been let down in this one area by multiple people who are supposed to make me feel like I belong and am part of a community---my family members and my therapist.

Sometimes, the support structures don't help.