Self Isolating Behavior

I keep trying to google it and I come up with nothing. What is self-isolating behavior a symptom of? Depression? Lack of ability to connect with others? Fear of the world? OCD? ADHD? What?

I'm kind of at a loss to try and understand this even though I do try.

Why do people self-isolate and is it a symptom of a larger disorder? This is my question.

The first thought that comes to mind is Depression... that which involves a lot of the things you listed above as possible reasons as to why. The second is Panic Disorder... that which will often keep you confined to your home unless the issue is dealt with properly via a therapist.

I think self-isolation can be a symptom of several disorders....including depression and various anxiety disorders. For myself, I think it's a part of my OCD. I self-isolate because I feel more comfortable being by myself, and I feel that socializing takes too much work. I'm trying to get rid of my self-isolation though!

I dont have panic attacks and dont obsess about other's judging me based on what I say, so its not Panic Attacks or Social anxiety...

I am prone to bouts of depression and have OCD like thought patterns at times. I do feel like people wouldn't like to be around me or that I am not worthy of a good friendship at times.

But other times I feel like I prefer to be alone. So i'm not sure if its because of low self esteem or just a preference to be alone.

Aloneness makes me feel special in a way because it makes me feel like my mind works differently than others that have cliques, ect. This could just be a defense mechanism though.

Hi Sophia, I notice you going back and forth between two entirely different perspectives here: what you experience for yourself, and what it might "mean". I have a feeling that the former will prove a lot more useful to you in the long run.

I offer (only half kiddingly) the following hypothesis: it's partly a symptom of worrying that it might be a symptom of something.

Keeping to yourself could turn out to be bad for you, or good for you, or most likely a combination of both, depending on what it's about for you. The best way to find out is to keep looking -- and to talk about it.

I don't think it's going to make a whole lot of difference why "people" (whoever they may be) self-isolate. You seem to be asking here why you do, and I think you'll eventually find your answers by looking at what it's about for you -- as you've already started doing:

That might be true, but the only way you could know that would be by getting those very people to let you know how they actually experience you. You might, on the other hand, find that it's mostly you who doesn't want to be around them -- or both.

"Not worthy" sounds to me like depression talking. If you were to notice, more neutrally, that you sometimes didn't feel able to hold up your end of the friendship, that might be a time to get away and do something else for a while -- and/or to seek out friendships that suited you better.
Exactly. Could the "low self esteem," if any, be partly a product of your thinking you shouldn't be alone even when you prefer to be?

The people in cliques have their defense mechanisms and you have yours. You're the only one who can say how your particular defense mechanisms are working for you and whether you're ready to try something different. Just keep looking -- and posting.

http://www.mhawestchester.org/advoca...tion030806.asp
http://futurity.org/health-medicine/...s-for-seniors/
http://www.ehow.com/how_5282065_work...isolation.html
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1898

Well the self-isolating behavior began when I was 16, i'm now 21. It first occured when people began to reject hanging out with me...and then I felt like there was something wrong with me.

When I was younger, i wasnt allowed to hang out with other children because i was in a medically fragile state.

I've always felt disconnected from people. For a long time.

I have a facial deformity and I have no idea how to handle myself around others. At times I've felt like people have treated me as though I was inferior because I looked different. I've felt like a "freak" before, but I dont use that word anymore.

Basically I'm just totally confused as to how to go into the world socially. I don't think I'll ever be considered pretty. :/ and I'd say that it was my depression talking but with the facial deformity i just dont know.

It's hard to tell if its bad self-esteem or just reality because my face looks different. I remember reading this article about people who had to have their jaws removed because of oral cancer and how they'd withdraw from society, not wanting people to look at their face.

I dont know, i used to be popular in high school, and then by the time i hit 10th grade I began to feel isolated and disconnected from others.

I've been on a forum for loneliness for the past year and a half, so this is really a pervasive thing.

I'd like to have someone to call up and say "do you want to hang?"

I think i've just gotten used to it by now and I'm not really sure how to make the feelings of isolation go away.

You know what? On second thought. Screw this. Screw all of this. If i have good hygiene, that's all I should worry about and if people reject me based on how I look it's their problem not mine. :l

I'm inclined to agree. You could even think of it as a way of weeding out those who aren't ready to be your friends but still want you to be theirs.

((((((((((((SophiaG))))))))))))))

I know we live thousands of miles away from each other, but I love talking with you, I wish I did live closer so we could hang out, me and you could get into some real mischeif!

Your right, screw those people that are rude to you, or won't befriend you based on something like a facial deformity, if they can't love you for all of you or will let something that insignficant in the grand scheme of things stop them from friendship, then they aren't worth your time dear.

Your a great person, funny, smart, witty, and yes you are are PRETTY! We are all beautiful in our own special ways, and I"m not talking out my *** when I say you are beautiful too.

Always here for you dear duckling sister!

Love
Typo

I started isolating myself as a kid because other kids my age were mean to me, and it never really stopped. Depression helps.

Good for you, SophiaG.

My thought would be depression and panic disorder.

i think if you do a search on isolation you might have more luck. i don't think you need to add "self" to it. a few different disorders come to mind off the top: depression, social phobia, avoidant personality disorder & schizoid personality disorder. hope that helps.

Welcome to the world of shallow people. I thought my generation was shallow, but the young kids of today have us beat.

10th grade--young adults concerned mostly about appearance and sexual activity. A deformity would make most of them uncomfortable.

You're 21 now. If you want to be included in society, make yourself as close to what the majority of people expect--keep yourself physically fit; attractive hair, makeup, and clothing. Educate yourself in a field that is in demand. Be prepared to deal with your deformity for a lifetime. If your deformity is something that can be corrected and that's the route you want to go, make sure you have the financial resources to pay for corrective surgery.

It takes more than good hygiene to make it in the world. People will reject you, whether you like it or not. Practically perfect looking people get rejected, too. It's what you do with yourself and how you build your life and positively contribute to society that will matter.

(((((((((((((((( SophiaG ))))))))))))))))

I can tell you have inner beauty- and that's all that counts my friend

This is a very hard question to answer...ill start from the beginning. Isolation comes from personality disorder, szchophrenia, bipolar, and depression that I know of...anyways with anxiety there are certain types:

• Panic Disorder- Unpredictable attacks of anxiety that are accompanied by physiological manifestations. People with this disorder often undergo medical evaluations for symptoms related to heart attacks or other medical conditions before the diagnosis of panic disorder is made. Attacks may last from minutes to hours. An affected person often lives in fear of another attack and may be reluctant to be alone or far from medical assistance. Panic attacks can occur at any time, even during sleep. An attack generally peaks within 10 minutes, but some symptoms may last much longer.
• Agrophobia- An abnormal fear of being helpless in an embarrassing or inescapable situation that is characterized especially by the avoidance of open or public places. It may occur alone, or may accompany panic disorder. People with this disorder may become house bound for years, with resulting impairment of social and interpersonal relationships.
• Phobias- Persistent fear of objects or situations. When these situations or objects appear, they can produce immediate and severe symptoms of anxiety.
• Social Anxiety Disorder- A persistent irrational fear of situations in which the person may be closely watched and judged by others, as in public speaking, eating, or using public facilities. A person then becomes fearful of social or performance situations in which they may be subject to the scrutiny of others.
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder- Post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychiatric illness that can occur following a traumatic event, in which there is the threat of injury or death to you or someone else.
• OCD- The person suffering from OCD uses ritualistic and repeated behaviors to rid themselves of obsessive thoughts and anxieties. Recent data show that 2-3% of people, or about 7 million Americans, suffer from this disorder.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder - This a common condition. The disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry that is out of proportion to the impact of the event or circumstance that is the focus of the worry. Persons with GAD may eventually experience other mental disorders, such as panic disorder or major depressive disorder.

Depression is pretty basic type wize. And bipolar and schizophrenia are in there own catigory. Now as for isolation...with depression people isolate to get away from the world mostly, anxiety is fear of crowds or just embarrassing yourself or panic attaks or voices tell you to leave, pchizophrenics have a different wayof thinking something might tell them to isolate and bipolars have different personalities meaning one personality might make them isolate along with personality disorders are like that..