Social isolation is common in family estrangement

Did you know that one of the impacts of family estrangement can be social isolation. Social isolation is often confused with loneliness. These are two completely different concepts.

Let’s face it, who could be surprised that some might yearn social isolation just to have bit of peace and quiet after going through all the trauma of leaving a toxic family.

Being able to live alone and be alone without being lonely is an awesome skill to have in your toolkit.

Sometimes that withdrawal, that social disconnectedness, can go a little too far.

It can result in social isolation that has known deleterious health effects (eg loss of motivation, weight gain, mental health issues etc).

Social isolation can affect anyone from young people who lived their social media during COVID to older people.

Did you know that one in five older people in Australia experience social isolation. And sadly for those in residential care that number climbs to one in three.

If you are concerned about social isolation:

1. Connect with communities where you share interests or can learn a new skill online (eg renovating, art, craft, music, sport etc)
2. Become more active. Make yourself leave the house and go for a walk each day
3. Get a pet or take opportunities to pat a dog and while making small talk with its owner.
4. Become a volunteer and support a charity or help someone to become their best self.

For more information and tips to overcome social isolation, read:

Aged Care Industry Research and Industry Innovation (ARIIA) Social Isolation https://www.ariia.org.au/knowledge-implementation-hub/social-isolation#:~:text=Around%20one%20in%20five%20older%20Australians%20are%20socially%20isolated. (Accessed 30 January 2024)

Health Direct, Loneliness and Isolation. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/loneliness-isolation-mental-health (Accessed 30 January 2024)