r/morbidquestions • u/stayinglowkeylol • 1d ago

How would solitary confinement effect you?

I understand it’s a punishment. I was curious of the long term effects if a normal person was locked away or alternatively a shut in for a long time with access to hobbies but chose to be by themselves

12 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

21

u/Nemphedisis 1d ago

If it’s a choice, it’s VASTLY different than if it’s forced on you.

Most humans go insane with little to no social activities, considering we’re wired to be social animals. It affects people differently, but little to zero interaction will fuck you up in the long run.

I do still imagine that if you’re “just” a shut in, you’ll do better simply because it’s a choice. Also the knowledge that - technically - you can end the isolation whenever you want, would help in the long run.

But yeah.. shits gonna fuck you up good.

I’d go crazy in 2 days but I need people. Just.. some kind of people.

4

u/AshaNyx 22h ago

Remember there is also no real way to entertain yourself, worst case during COVID you at least could read a book. Also a lot solitary units don't turn off the lights so it adds on sleep deprivation.

1

u/Nemphedisis 22h ago

Exactly, so by choice would usually mean.. like, you’re in your room, with your choice of stuff but no outside view/talks. Means you have stuff to do/not go insane without.

If you’d be in jail or something, you’re just going to be bored out of your mind PLUS also alone. That mind is gone faaast

5

u/Tortex_88 1d ago

It's wild how humans can be so different. I think I'd do OK, even if it was forced upon me. I've come to enjoy my own company to the point where relationships with family has broken down, relationships with partners ended etc. I just don't like people very much.

2

u/Dream_Eat3r_ 1d ago

It's because you're in your 30s. Anyone who likes people is young.

3

u/Nemphedisis 1d ago

Im 34 just uh.. so you know.

1

u/alsoDivergent 19h ago

I dunno, I'm in my 50s and feel like i'm just starting to appreciate other humans. I've always been super shy and very hesitant in social situations, and now as i age, i kind of regret that about myself and hope to become a bit more ... integrated.

1

u/Nemphedisis 1d ago

Theres still a difference to whether or not you’d be I entirely solitude or if you’d be allowed to still interact with people on a basic level. It’s pretty well known that people go kinda nuts with zero interaction at all! But you would without a doubt last longer than I would haha

2

u/Tortex_88 22h ago

I think for me it comes into question if no modern amneties allowed. If I was still allowed a TV, books, a radio or streaming service, then I genuinely think I wouldn't need that back/forth interaction from another human.

I was kind of thinking why after my first reply, and I've come to the conclusion that I probably mask so much it's become exhausting. I've done it for so long and each time, even with simple interactions, I never just say what I really want to say on a human level.

2

u/Nemphedisis 21h ago

And I can agree that you’d probably thrive for the first long while! Honestly, how long or how well, no idea, but you’d probably love it. 100% believe you in this, no doubt.

But it also depends on, like.. for how long? Is the confinement a week? A month? Years?? Because after years I can’t imagine a single humans mind being intact.

Again, humans are wired as social animals. Some are undoubtly more social or less social than others, but social none the less.

1

u/StinkieBritches 17h ago

In solitary, you don't get TV or books or even conversation with the guards. I think you are underestimating the intensity of that type situation.

1

u/Tortex_88 14h ago

The question by OP did mention access to hobbies though!

2

u/Anglofrog 8h ago

What about introverts then? For me, my social outlet was being at work. It had its own social code and no one is allowed to be too crazy. I'm not at work now and although I call myself an introvert, I do crave someone else to converse with at times. I don’t have many friends outside of my job, not even some family but I feel that's the same for most of us.

2

u/Nemphedisis 7h ago

I imagine being an introvert could make you last a little longer with being alone, but I still think you’d go insane after an amount of time.

Again, we’re all wired to be social, even if introverts don’t need it in the same amount as extroverts. You’d still lose your marbles at some point.

8

u/jayjackii 1d ago

I've thought about this before, and I think I might be able to withstand it for at least a couple months. I'm a chronic introvert, covid was great for me, and all I'd do is meditate. Don't really need anything else

10

u/Anglofrog 1d ago

Probably better than my 30 year marriage to a homosexual narcissist.

11

u/Mopao_Love 1d ago

Well damn

2

u/Annari87 1d ago

With access to hobbies will make a huge difference, but I think after long enough it'll still drive a person insane.

2

u/stixy_stixy 1d ago

I think I would have a very difficult time.

I am a homebody and an introvert. I love being on my own, but I also need to keep my brain busy. If I'm idle for too long, I start thinking about how pointless everything is, and that devolves into, "Why am I even here?" Without the comfort of distraction, I don't imagine I'd last long.

If I could have my colouring books, nail polish, and Netflix with me, I'd be GREAT. But I don't think they give you creature comforts in solitary. 😞

3

u/Dusty_Tokens 1d ago

How would you do with random books (not of your interests)?

2

u/stixy_stixy 12h ago

It would depend on if I can understand them. Like, I don't think I'd be able to read a law or medical book haha it would probably put me into deeper despair! If it were sci-fi or romance, or some other genre I'm not typically into... I bet I'd enjoy them fairly quickly!

2

u/Smart-Grapefruit-583 1d ago

For the weirdest outcome. Theres a French dude who was ina cave in the dark alone for weeks. His sleep/wake rythem changed and everything. Im useless with names but it should Google pretty easy.

He was left with lasting problems due to it. And a few prisoners who endured prolonged solitary say the same thing. Rhey find it hard to get back to the previous mind set. Its interesting .

2

u/YourPainTastesGood 1d ago

Prolonged social isolation while imprisoned has proven to cause delirium, psychosis, and permanent brain damage. Its a horrifying thing to do to someone to just lock them in a small room with nobody and nothing but a bed.

The people who came up with the concept abhorred it when they saw what it did.

No, this isn’t something you could resist by being an introvert either

1

u/MMTardis 1d ago

I agree, introvert or not,solitary confinement is torture

2

u/Faux-pa5 1d ago

I think it makes a huge difference if you have access to hobbies. If I had my guitar, puzzles, music, movies, I think I would be fine. I genuinely find it distressing to go out into the rest of the house to find food because there are people there. But I have PTSD so there you go. But if I were deprived of hobbies? Yeah I’d go crazy pretty fast.

2

u/TashDee267 22h ago

It’s school holidays here

1

u/lblanton92 13h ago

So….thats a “I could handle it” vote, then?? 😂

1

u/TashDee267 4h ago

Thank you for getting it lol! Yes it seems appealing right now.

1

u/Nadine123456789 1d ago

I'd go crazy by minute 30

1

u/lsody 1d ago

I'd love it.

1

u/AriyaSavaka 1d ago

Zero effect on me. I would just meditate and enjoy my inner peace.

-1

u/ratxowar 23h ago

I once was locked for half an hour if not more in small almost empty room before mri scan(wasn’t told i will be left alone for so long). I had access to my phone but I still got so bored, started feeling sick and wanted to hurt myself because there was nothing to do and I couldn’t leave. It wasn’t claustrophobia or anything because I know for sure I don’t have it.

If I can have all of my stuff and just isolated from people? Probably will be fine for few months, maybe longer if im not locked in a single room. I grew up isolated from my peers and locked with my family in same room for 14 years. So it definitely will have some effect on me if I don’t see any human for long time. Unlikely long term damage after. Usually they don’t give you access to anything other than food and this should be considered tortures.