What's the problem with social isolation?

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Well I don't think its a problem for people who like it, it is was and is kind of a problem for me though.

You were born with a neuro-logical condition that effects your ability to socially inter-act and maintain relationships. So, it's to be expected to a certain degree....for social isolation to occur. However, people grow understandably very concern when there is NO social interaction at all.

Then, the questions become, Who do you talk to ? Who do you go to for emotional support ? Who do you discuss your problems with ? How do you maintain your sanity without social interaction ?

What has happened IS that people who require little person to person interaction have compensated for it...via internet and other electronic communication devices.



TheSunAlsoRises

I agree. At the moment my best friend is Chuck Norris as I'm watching one of his movies. Top Dog.

Could you elaborate on your friendship with Chuck Norris ? How does this actually work ?

Is it correct to conclude that you are simply fascinated with everything Chuck Norris and your friendship with Mr. Norris is simply a special interest...... focused on a person ?


TheSunAlsoRises

I've always thought its more mentally ill to have happiness dependant on other people. Like they can't survive on their own. I'm well aware that NTs don't share this view.

I respectfully disagree with any therapist who says that wanting to be alone/being alone is bad. I went through all that too, and was even "forced" to interact with other kids when I was 8 or 10, and for a few years, and it didn't work. It was in fact torture, and I wound up being the laughing stock of the school, and hated by many. I didn't find solace until we eventually moved to another city where I did not repeat the mistakes. I have never had clinical depression, and honestly I feel happiest when I'm alone, or with only my wife. I like to see other people too sometimes, but not always, and when I don't want to have other people around, it makes me very uneasy and distracted to have them forced upon me. I like traveling alone or with my wife; not tour groups. We went on a cruise ship from Vancouver to Alaska once, and despite the "fun" stuff most people find, I found myself tolerating it and counting the days 'til we got back. For sports, I love riding motorcycles, and that is usually a group sport, I do that alone and would probably not even do it if I had to be in a group. That would take the fun freedom away. I might or might not have the skills to compete in motocross, and honestly I probably did at one time, but had no interest in that aspect of it due to the interaction with fellow riders, and the competitiveness involved. Virtually every work project I do, is done best alone, and usually gets screwed up somehow if others are involved. I am the textbook opposite of a "team player"! I am also a 44-year-old happily married, well-educated successful business owner with perfectly good social skills..... If I want to use them.

With that said, if I were you, I would think to myself as to whether or not the reasons that these therapists or doctors are pushing you are real, or if you really are just plain happiest alone when you want to be, and you are OK with groups when necessary or when it's your choice. I would suggest pointing them to this thread, in fact, and perhaps they can understand some details of Asperger's which may or may not be well-covered in textbooks.

Charles

Yeah, being alone isn't bad. Being alone constantly without communicating with anyone else, though, is a problem. You need to be in contact with other human beings in order to exchange ideas and get access to different perspectives about the world.

You do not, however, have to socialize constantly or as much as an extrovert does. You don't even have to socialize face-to-face. There are a lot of people who are homebound for some reason or another, who get their socialization by phone, Internet, mail, or other similar method. The important thing is not really to be with other people, but to maintain contact with them. So, what you're doing here on WP? Socializing. It counts.

There's an exception to that, though, for very young children. Young children do need physical contact to grow up healthy. Preemies, for example, grow up healthier and gain weight faster if they spend time in skin-to-skin contact with parents. Many autistic infants, with their odd sensory systems, are indifferent to or overwhelmed by physical contact, though, so I think in those cases it's important to figure out how the child likes to interact with the parent, and to do it that way. Maybe the kid finds it comforting to be swaddled tightly, or rocked, or carried in a baby sling. Maybe full-body contact is too overwhelming and the child would rather grab a parent's finger or have his/her back rubbed. There are lots of ways; the important thing is just contact, in a way that doesn't freak out the sensory system.

You don't need to do that at all, and it's not a problem if you don't. You don't need to exchange ideas, nor do you need different perspectives. You only need these things if you think you do.

It's not healthy. But, if he's bothering you just tell him to shut up or mention how everyone is socially isolated these days with cell phones, computers, facebook, twitter, etc... (not sarcasm, they seem social, but are the exact opposite and are isolating). Every time I see a bunch of people all at a table with their cellphones out I just want to rage.

I don't usually talk to anybody at all. I guess I get my emotional support from my psychiatrist and psychologist because I have to interact with them. They are the ones I discuss my problems and issues with. I'm not sure how I maintain my sanity, it seems like I would quickly lose it if I was constantly forced to interact with people I didn't want to. I guess browsing the forums here at wrongplanet is all the social interaction that I need to get by.

Analogy:

It's pretty much agreed upon that we need vitamin D.

One of the best, natural, and abundant sources for vitamin D is sunshine. For those who have different degrees of sensitivity to sunlight, do we force them to go into the sunlight, anyway ? or Do we have different levels of sunscreen in-order to ease discomfort and add protection ? For those who have a severe reaction to sunlight, do we send them out in the sunshine, regardless or do we provide alternative means in which to get vitamin D ?

Social Interaction( the sunshine) bothers you. Yet, you get your daily dose of vitamin D(social contact) through alternative means (wrongplanet).

*Daily supply depends on the needs of the individual.

TheSunAlsoRises