Isolation is a common subject these days, especially since the whole world has to follow the social distancing-related advice. Sometimes people use terms such as isolation and intimacy with wrong meanings, and today, we’ll address the concepts so you can have the correct understanding of these two essential matters.
Intimacy vs. isolation
First of all, it’s worth mentioning that Intimacy vs. isolation is the sixth stage of Erik Erikson’s theory of psychological development. Just in case you don’t know by now, Erik Erikson became extremely popular for his theory of psychological development and also the concept of an identity crisis.
All these issues are crucial these days, especially since the natural normality which we used to know for our whole lives has changed, and things will probably never go back to their exact form from before the coronavirus pandemic appeared. This will probably turn out to be the most significant crisis that out generation will go through and the most shocking one with long-lasting psychological effects as well.
Anyway, back to the intimacy versus isolation subject.
The stage takes place during young adulthood, and it’s between the ages of 19 and 40 years old. During this period of time, the major conflict centers on being able to form intimate, loving relationships with others. If this stage turns out successful, the result will be fulfilling relationships.
The importance of mental health
On the other hand, it’s important to note the fact that failure can trigger feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can be very dangerous, especially in the uncertain times that we live in when depression and anxiety can hit top levels.
All these are subjects related to mental health, and some people may find themselves longing for someone to spend their life with, something with whom to be able to share both joy and sadness.
These days, there are more and more people who are retreating in isolation, especially since we have to avoid intimacy and engaging in face to face relationships with others due to the social distancing practices. This is one of the main reasons for which addressing a mental health counselor is vital these days, especially if you are experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, and despair.
Agnes is a technical writer, being in touch with reports to come up with the latest tech leaks.
