How does prolonged social isolation affect a person?

When people are isolated from human contact, their mind can do some truly bizarre things, says Michael Bond. ... For most people, prolonged social isolation is all bad, particularly mentally. .... We may crave solitude occasionally, but in the long term it's not good for us physically or mentally (Getty Images). read more

The mechanisms behind these effects are still unclear, though what is known is that social isolation unleashes an extreme immune response – a cascade of stress hormones and inflammation. This may have been appropriate in our early ancestors, when being isolated from the group carried big physical risks, but for us the outcome is mostly harmful. read more

Social isolation results in a lack of opportunities for social engagement and mental stimulation, activities that are thought to keep the brain in good condition and reduce the risk of dementia. Obviously, declining health and loss of independence can be the cause rather than the effect of loneliness and isolation. read more

Do remember that there are multiple types of isolation. There is forced isolation and willful isolation. Sudden and gradual. Physical and social. Willful isolation makes the act far less painful, even pleasant. Take the example of a hermit living on the side of a mountain. read more