In Malaysia, it’s coming to 40 days Movement Control Order. We don’t know when it’s going to lift. The announcement comes every 2 weeks for a continued MCO and it is a necessary precaution.

Now by this stage everyone would be experiencing some kind of withdrawal symptoms. Some kind of social isolation.

What is social isolation?  

The term social isolation and loneliness has been used interchangeably. While both terms is closely linked to each other, both words have different meanings. You can be lonely in a crowd but not socially isolated.  The experience of loneliness is a very subjective one. Whereas social isolation is where you can count the number of contacts you have in one hand. Both carry very painful experience for the individual. Both social isolation and loneliness have harmful effects for the individuals.

For social isolation, there’s an absence of social contact which can lead to loneliness. The individual is being cut off from normal social networks which can be triggered by mobility, unemployment, or health issues. Currently with the 40 days plus (in Malaysia) of Movement Control Order, we are all experiencing some sort of Social Isolation. We aren’t able to freely sit at our local mamak for teh Tarik (tea), we aren’t able to go to the local pub for a drink with friends. Little actions with friends have a huge impact in our mental and emotional health.

Problems we face on social isolation.

There are many emotional and mental health problems with social isolation. Many suffer in silence, many don’t realize they are suffering from it. This are a few listed below:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Frustration
• Quick temper
• Impatience
• Fatigue
• Demotivated
• Stress

How can we overcome social isolation?

We aren’t living in the 70’s or 80’s where internet access was not even invented yet. We are in the 21^st century. Our internet is heading towards 5g (although there’s many controversy about it) giving us faster speed to our wifi.

We have many applications with which we can apply and utilize. Application like Skype, Zoom, Telegram, WeChat, Whats App. Currently we are not allowed out of the house, we need to be creative in how we have our tea. Utilize what we have already. Change it up in the way we grab our coffee or tea and ‘meet’ up with friends over zoom with a cup of tea or breakfast in hand and catch up with them.

Those whom you haven’t heard for a while, send them a message or give them a call just to let them know that they are not alone. That one call could make a huge difference to that friend.

For those who are short tempered, frustrated, stressed, it is understandable especially now but remind yourself, this is only TEMPORARY. Channel your frustrated in another way, maybe pick up a new hobby, could be anything. If you like to paint, draw, exercise, it’s a good way to channel away your frustration. Even singing can destress you. Listening to soothing music helps with your moods.

It doesn’t matter whether you can sing, dance, paint. What matters is the release of your emotions that isn’t serving your currently. The more stress, angry you are, the more damage you are doing to your physical body. Your emotions and your physical body is related.

If you need to talk to someone, pick up the phone, video call and talk to that person closest to you. One who can lend you an ear. There are many times we think we can handle it ourselves only to realize that a person who is objective may just clear that cloud in your mind.

Perhaps there’s an online course that is being offered for free and it interest you. Enrol in it. Step out of your comfort zone and learn something new.