Discussion»Statements»Rosie's Corner» The citizens of the town of Siena, Italy burst into song from their balconies! Leave it to the Italians! Should the whole world join in?
The worst thing about isolation is that it causes depression. Depression lowers the body's immune system making it more susceptible to diseases. Diseases make people need to isolate themselves. A vicious circle.
Whether we like it or not, we are social creatures. We need others to stay healthy (physically and mentally). Isolation, whether self imposed or not, is very stressful. Humans cannot tolerate long periods of isolation. That's why it's been used as a form of torture for millennia.
Even though we must be isolated due to a disease, we still cry out for social support. Music is soothing. It reduces stress. Isolation creates stress. So what better way to help to relieve this stress than with singing. Another tool we can use to help combat disease is laughter. Laughter offsets the impact of mental stress and increases blood flow to the heart and brain.
Currently, our world is so gripped in fear and panic that these tools lie on the ground unused or underused. These tools don't cost anything. They're safe, readily available and don't require a prescription. Plus its nearly impossible to OD on them. No, they're not cure-alls, but they may help us keep our sanity during this current crisis.
This is how WE REACH OUT Shuhak. Thee and me and everyone else who engages in talking to others about whatever on internet social sites. Worldwide we can be in touch/connected just by showing up and participating. Better than withdrawing pulling back retrenching retracting. It's my way of staying connected to others. I'm not a social person in my everyday life. Only in measured controlled spurts. Going to the market and seeing people there who smile when they see me and they greet me and I smile back and greet them. Short-lived but consistent and DEPENDABLE. Otherwise elsewise I stay home. It's the best place for me to be. Always has been. I remember vividly when I was about 3 being away from home.....at my grandparents. That was fine until visitors dropped by and then I had a tantrum. I WANTED TO GO HOME RIGHT THEN. I made a spectacle of myself and my mom had to apologize for me but I WANTED TO GO HOME. Being there with my parents and grandparents was fine with me. But when strangers (to me) showed up everything changed. I didn't feel safe. I WANTED TO GO HOME. It's always been that way for me. Thank you for your thoughtful reply Shuhak. You too or not so much?
A big ditto! I enjoy interacting online. In real life, I am NOT social. People make me uncomfortable. When I worked, I always found a reason to be in the back room or doing paperwork during bus times (holidays, snowstorms). I even came in early (3 am) so I could avoid having to deal with customers. I do not like going to the store. Not just the people part (why I always go early), but it also brings back reminders of how that work nearly killed me (anger and anxiety). When I was young and people came over, I was always ignored. Of course, my mom didn't like people much either, so only relatives and a few people from church ever came over.
Shuhak 