iame's Journal

There are 3 types of Isolation
Interpersonal Isolation (loneliness is interpersonal isolation) Isolation from other individuals due to various factors, such as geographic location, lack of social skills, heavy conflict over one’s feelings about intimacy.
Intrapersonal Isolation—fragmentation of self. This happens when a person
• Stifles their feelings or desires
• Accepts oughts and shoulds
• Distrust one’s own judgement
• Buries one’s own potential
All forms of isolation are interwoven and can be mistaken for each other.
To the extent that one is responsible for one’s own life, one is alone.
Existential Isolation—is a separation from the world. This is best seen when our normal guidelines are stripped away. (Like divorce.) It results in not feeling at home in the world and we feel existential anguish. The fear of existential isolation is the driving force behind many interpersonal relationships. A person has to learn to relate to others without reducing them to being a tool, a defense against isolation. A person has to separate from others to encounter isolation and deal with the responsibility for one’s life. To take that responsibility means to forsake the belief that someone else can, or should be a guard of one’s self. Once that has been done it ultimately allows them to engage with others in a deeply, meaningful, manner.