Isolation Can Be Hazardous

“WARNING: Isolation may be dangerous to your health.” Similarly worded notices are usually reserved for serious dangers to a person’s well-being, as well as threats posed by chemicals and drugs. But recent findings indicate that this is a warning that may justifiably be issued to those who, by circumstances or choice, live a life of isolation.

For example, the impact of losing a marriage mate can be very injurious. Time magazine reports that “the coronary death rate among widows between 25 and 34 is five times that of married women in the same age group. At all ages, the divorced are twice as likely as the married to develop lung cancer or suffer a stroke.”

However, loneliness produced by isolation also takes its toll among adults who have never been married. A study made by Dr. James Lynch of the University of Maryland shows death from heart disease to be two to five times as high for single persons. This study indicates that the likelihood of a bachelor’s spending time in a mental institution is 23 times as great as for married men, and a single woman’s 10 times as great as for a married woman. It is very evident that this doctor did not examine records of those who are living in close harmony with the inspired Holy Bible, such as the Christian witnesses of Jehovah. The statistics about these would be very different. According to the doctor’s statistics, loneliness due to isolation can bring about mental and emotional anguish that constitutes a threat to life.

The experience of so-called distress centers in large cities reflects the seriousness of the problem. Consider metropolitan Toronto, Canada, with a population of more than two million. At just one of several distress centers some 33,000 telephone calls were received within a year’s time. That is one call every 16 minutes. About 75 percent of the callers were people suffering from isolation, “the walking wounded,” as one doctor termed them. Six percent of them were suicidal. The Toronto Star spoke of them as persons suffering from an “invisible disease” that has reached epidemic proportions. Dr. Vello Sermat defined it as “a feeling of utter desolation as if totally separated from other individuals. . . . A lack of human ties.” Many of those suffering from isolation are the aged, including widows and widowers.

Sadly, the aged who live alone are often the victims of crime. In a number of large cities these unfortunate ones are forced to continue living in rapidly deteriorating neighborhoods, where young hoodlums consider them easy targets. Thefts, savage beatings, rape and torture have been the lot of some of these lonely senior citizens. Fear causes these older persons to isolate themselves further. They may bar their doors and board up their windows, and have food and other necessities delivered to them.

The young, too, have suffered from the perils of a solitary life. Some have thought that they would create a new life-style that was not dependent on the conventional togetherness of the past. They have hoped for a happier way of life. But has it been truly satisfying? The Toronto Star reports that the fastest-growing rate of suicides in the province of Ontario is among the 20- to 30-year-olds. Then there are those who realize too late that they have become victims of wrongly motivated persons. As one 26-year-old put it: “He told me he was crazy about me, . . . he sent me flowers . . . bought me dinners . . . and then he told me the truth. He was living with another woman.”

Problems of Isolation

Even the ‘single swingers’ are beginning to find that a person cannot easily deny what is natural in life. Despite what appears on the surface, there is a growing awareness among the young that constancy in companionship is what is really desired and needed for a satisfying life. In an article called “Alone in the Crowd​—The Cracks Are Showing in the Singles Dream,” Canada’s weekly newsmagazine Maclean’s observed: “More women—​and some men​—are admitting to being tired, frustrated and bored by casual sex.” Sex in itself has not been the answer. Something is lacking: Genuine love and a commitment. With the years passing all too quickly, many face the problem of finding a suitable marriage mate. The summary of their self-induced isolation has turned out to be​—swinging in the 60’s, sulking in the 70’s and aching today.

Manifestly, something happens to the reasoning processes of a person who is isolated by choice or by force of circumstances. What often occurs is that, contrary to the counsel given in the Bible, he thinks too much about himself, even giving in to self-pity. He becomes critical of the omissions of others and overemphasizes their failures toward him, sometimes attributing bad motives. He waits for others to be friendly and feels they have failed him if they are not. An example is a young married woman with two children. For a period of time this mother kept herself from the company of persons whom she knew well. When a friend mentioned not seeing her recently, she responded: “I did it to see if anyone noticed or cared.”

So there are clear indications that a failure among people in general to form solid human relationships can endanger a person’s health. But what does a person do if the circumstances are seemingly beyond his control? How can he adjust to unwanted changes in his life?

Do Not Isolate Yourself

IN MOST situations isolation is unnatural. Persistent isolation is unchristian. Though complete in himself and not needing companionship, Jehovah God saw fit to surround himself with myriads of spirit sons. (Job 38:4-7; Dan. 7:10) This was an active expression of his love. Moved by the same love, he later produced an earthly son, Adam. A marvelously designed ability to communicate was built into both heavenly and earthly sons. (1 Cor. 13:1) God did not bring forth these intelligent beings merely to receive from them, but, rather, to give. He found delight in such sons, and they were pleased to be with him and with one another.​—Compare Proverbs 8:30, 31.

The Most High also decided that it would not be good for Adam to continue being alone and, therefore, provided a partner for him. (Gen. 2:18) Fulfillment of Jehovah’s command for the first pair to fill the earth was to bring into being an earth-wide, communicating family of humankind. (Gen. 1:28) How clear it is that humans were not intended to suffer from the ill effects of isolation!

Little wonder, then, that most Bible references to forms of isolation relate to negative aspects. (Ps. 25:16; 102:7) Cain’s banishment for the murder of his brother was an isolating of him from the rest of the human family. He viewed this as a punishment, something difficult to bear.​—Gen. 4:11-14.

The Remedy

But what can a person do who feels alone, unloved or unwanted? Rather than pitying himself, waiting for others to do something, expecting to receive, he should take the initiative in actively expressing love for others in imitation of God and Christ. By isolating himself, whether intentionally or unintentionally, an individual acts contrary to the divine purpose for mankind. No wonder that isolation brings problems! So the remedy is in doing what the Creator had in mind for us. He desired that we enjoy companionship with fellow humans. One formerly lonely woman came to appreciate this point. She said: ‘It dawned on me at last. So I got on my feet and stopped thinking about myself and started to work hard. I’ve been working hard ever since.’

What can we learn from this experience? A person does not have to be lonely. There is something positive that he can do about it. He can practice basic Christianity. After all, can an individual be a Christian and an isolationist at the same time? No, for loving one’s neighbor requires the doing of good to one’s fellowman, being active in imitating the Creator. (Matt. 22:37-39; 7:12) And merciful giving to needy persons brings joy. Such giving banishes the unhappiness that often characterizes a lonely life.

Prevention

Of course, it takes effort to become active in sharing with others, not allowing oneself to become discouraged because of feeling inadequate. Since it is not easy to overcome loneliness, we do well to avoid becoming a victim of this malady. Hence, even though others may disappoint us, we need to guard against drawing away from people. The Bible says: “No one of us lives . . . for himself alone.” (Rom. 14:7, The New English Bible) Once a person isolates himself, he is in danger of thinking unwisely, even foolishly, to his injury. A Bible proverb expresses it in this way: “One isolating himself will seek his own selfish longing; against all practical wisdom he will break forth.”​—Prov. 18:1.

Take the case of a young wife who became addicted to watching late-night pornographic movies on television. Subjected to this unwholesome influence, she soon stopped praying, reading the Scriptures and attending Christian meetings. Soon she felt that her husband was inadequate and began pitying herself. She embarked on a course that months before she would have quickly rejected as foolishness. Drawn out by her wrong desires, she abandoned her husband and small daughter to take up life with another man. Did she really find happiness? No. She later admitted to a friend that her new male associate had been beating her and that she was miserable without her child. This woman had hurt herself, her husband, her child and her fellow Christians and had brought great reproach on the Creator​—all of this because of isolating herself.

Isolation Is Unchristian

Isolation really is unchristian. It is divisive, puts a damper on zealous Christian works and limits communication. Cut off from others, the individual may become depressed and give in to doubts respecting trustworthy humans, even about God and the Scriptures. The disciple Jude shows that some in his day failed to appreciate that even angels hurt themselves when they abandoned association with God and faithful angels to indulge their wrong desires.​—Jude 6, 8, 10, 20-22.

The whole spirit of the Bible runs counter to isolation and its undesirable results​—inactivity, lack of communication and failure to express love. The Scriptures teach and stimulate positive action, using many action words to do so. We are encouraged to ‘do unto others,’ to ‘go make disciples,’ to ‘ask and it will be given to us,’ to ‘keep on knocking’ for response, to ‘love one’s neighbor,’ to ‘assemble with other Christians,’ to ‘follow the course of hospitality.’ These are all antidotes to lethargy, pitying oneself, feeling unwanted or useless. Christianity requires that a person show compassion by pitying others, making someone feel wanted and useful instead of feeling useless. When we give wholeheartedly, we can rest assured that we will receive bountifully from our heavenly Father. (Matt. 6:1-4) Giving endears one to others, dispelling feelings of loneliness.

Of course, there are times when we need our privacy. Even Jesus Christ, though busy in aiding others, made time for solitude. On hearing the news regarding the death of John the Baptizer, he went “into a lonely place for isolation.” (Matt. 14:13) For those who are usually in the company of others, isolation can be a refreshing change and can provide fine opportunity for thinking. The Son of God once said to his disciples: “‘Come, you yourselves, privately into a lonely place and rest up a bit.’ For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure time even to eat a meal.” (Mark 6:31; 3:20) Solitude was just what they needed then.

When we spend times of solitude in purposeful meditation, we can strengthen our faith. Such meditation can serve to draw us nearer to God. It can move us to express ourselves appreciatively in prayer, thus enhancing our personal relationship with the Almighty. But such occasions are temporary. Never would we want to isolate ourselves to the extent of taking up a monastic life.​—Compare John 17:15.

Truly, we have sound reasons for avoiding a life of isolation. It is harmful indeed. Isolation can adversely affect Christian activity, association and communication. Therefore, take full advantage of God’s spiritual provisions. Read his Word daily. Do not neglect prayer. Keep the mind filled with wholesome thoughts. Maintain regular association with those of like precious faith. Keep busy in the worthwhile work of teaching God’s Word, and in other ways respond to the needs of fellow humans. Sticking close to Jehovah and his Word and yielding to the influence of his spirit will “prevent you from being either inactive or unfruitful regarding the accurate knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 1:5-8) Do not isolate yourself.