What Social Distancing Actually Is & What it Means for Mental Health

Social distancing is a time-honored, low-tech tool for slowing the spread of contagious pathogens. But it can also take a toll psychologically. Luckily, there are ways to mitigate these harms, so you can protect yourself and your community from disease while also protecting your mental health.

SciShow SARS-CoV-2 Episodes:

Hosted by: Hank Green
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[darkwisteria]

I don’t miss social interaction as much as the extroverts probably do, but I miss having the option to go out shopping or going out to eat

[johnopalko]

A summary of my life:

40 Years Ago: That creepy guy next door lives alone with his cat. He must be a serial killer or something.

Last Year: That nice guy next door lives alone with his cat. He must be lonely. Let's take him some cookies.

Today: That guy next door just stays in with his cat. He's really doing his part to contain the virus.

[Chunks-of-Pepsi]

Not gonna lie, this vid helped my mental health alot, particularly the end part. Thank you Hank and everyone else at SciShow, you guys are awesome <3 Stay safe out there everyone.

[gideon]

hank: "Be kind to one another"
me: seems reasonable
hank: "and especially, to yourself"
me: HA

[sonorasgirl]

This is why, as a therapist, I’m considered “necessary” and an essential worker in my state. I’m doing as much telehealth as possible, but that’s not possible for all my clients. I’m lucky that I still have a job and get paid, but I’m also part of the front lines in a way (not comparing myself to docs and nurses...holy hell, they need medals after this). Mental health is important! Take care of yourself if you can guys. Good luck out there

[macaronnie]

staying home is really hitting me hard, i’m an introvert but it makes me anxious being stuck at home.

[frikativos]

I love staying home. I can read, watch series, talk with my friends and family over skype, learn how to do new things... I am happy to keep doing it for as long as needed.

[AidanRatnage]

Why _is_ it called social distancing and not physical distancing?

[panicathedogpark]

I consider myself an introvert, so all of this isn’t affecting me as much as I assume it affects extroverts. That being said, my mental health is still taking a HUGE toll from all of this. I’ve had to cancel get togethers with close friends, which was one of my only relievers from all my mental health problems before the virus hit, and since I only live with my mom, my dog is the only other thing that feels reminiscent of social interaction. It’s honestly torture for me, and my anxiety has gone through the roof at times. I can’t even imagine what all this must be like for someone who lives alone, so I’m sending all the love. Hope y’all are doing okay 💙

[angelitabecerra]

Regarding mindfulness practices, especially meditation; they can be very useful and beneficial as Hank says in this video. Speaking from experience however, if you have PTSD meditation can bring on flashbacks and other symptoms. Only in a small minority of PTSD sufferers though, thank Goddess. If you're like me and meditation makes your PTSD worse talk to your therapist. They might be able to help you do it safely. And if not, find a viable alternative.

Be safe and stay kind to yourself. Blessed be

[TiaKatt]

This has got to be tough on extraverts :( They're not used to being expected to act in opposition to their natural mode, particularly not for extended periods of time. Add to that the general stress of the whole situation even beyond the need for distancing, and it's going to be a particularly hard time for them.

I'm an introvert with social anxiety (incidently, I've always really felt for extraverts with social anxiety, that sounds like a nightmare). My entire life has been spent having to force myself to act against what comes naturally to me. It's *exhausting*. To function in society, basically every introvert is expected to do this, our entire lives. It can be a drain even on those who do not experience social anxiety. And frankly, a lot of people aren't very sympathetic to that. At all. And they make it a lot harder than it actually has to be. I know what that's like, and while I certainly get where some other introverts are coming from right now, I don't want to do that to anyone else.

For extraverts, this is new to you. It's a big shock, and the frustration you may be feeling is completely legitimate; it's not wrong, it's not inconsiderate, it's not irresponsible to feel terrible right now and like you just want to *get out*. But you can't. And that sucks. Some of you are probably just about climbing the walls, especially when we don't know how long this can or must go on. You're stressed and maybe a bit afraid for all the same reason introverts are right now, and then on top of that some of your key methods of stress relief and comfort are largely denied you. That's terrible, and I'm sorry.

Socialize in as many ways and with as many amenable people as you reasonably and safely can! Gaming's great, and sometimes you may have to dig a little, but it's possible to find some really friendly communities. Or you can set up an organized group with friends - guaranteed awesome people to play with. My WoW guild's raiding attendance has never been higher ;) For some of the more outgoing members of our guild, the routine of the raid schedule and the chance for socialization and goofing off with the rest of us nerds has really been a lifeline.

You may be very lonely right now, but you're very much not *alone*. You can do this.

And when this is over, spare a thought for the introverts in your life, particularly the ones you love and who love you. Some of what you're experiencing right now is our normal day-to-day existence.

But that still doesn't negate what you're dealing with right now. Stay safe, stay healthy in every way you can, then responsibly throw epic parties when this is all over. Just don't invite me ;)

[EyesOfByes]

For someone with Aspergers and social anxiety, the social distancing is the best thing to happen since the invention of measles vaccine. "Oh, it's not allowed to go big events and mingle with strangers? How awful. Not"

[jaschabull]

Finally, someone's talking about the mental aspects of this, after weeks of no one addressing that "social distancing" literally sounds like something you'd find in a list of causes of depression. I wonder what their suggestions to help in the mental department are:


*watches video*


Exercise, huh? As in that one thing everyone says works wonders, but I'm apparently allergic to (Secondary Physical Education was hell to me)? Well, I'm doomed.


Also, I've been considering donating too, but part of me is afraid it'll just make me more likely to run out of money when the apparently inevitable Great Depression 2.0 hits in the fallout of this crisis... How real is that risk? Or are you just going to say, "Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not an economic adviser."?

[erikdentremont]

I am very glad that I am autistic right now. I don't get lonely, don't feel bad when I have little social contact. I'm still worried for people I care about and afraid for the future, but being isolated isn't bothering me as much as it is for others

[thenoodledragon]

As someone with depression and anxiety while being an extrovert this has been a bit hard. I already had limited freedom with going out due to health issues. This was nice though. Thank you for always being here for us ♥

[madelineaugust]

I'm an introvert through-and-through. I love my alone time. But holy crap has this pandemic and social distancing made me feel so lonely. I play dnd with my friends every week and while we've moved to online voice chatting, I miss seeing them and having dinner with them. I hate being cooped up with my family 24/7. Thank you for all the information and tips on how to make things a little easier, SciShow. <3 Stay safe.

[danielgn]

"We're social species"

My brain after three weeks of not overthinking every time someone glances at me: _well guess I'm an alien_

[sebastianelytron]

Social distancing aka story of my life

[jaxthibert]

This is where I struggle the most. I suffer from extreme depression and have very limited mobility already, so making me stay home is not helping me to feel good at all. As I ( my son does also )have Asthma and I was diagnosed a year ago with Diabetes type 2. I'm actually scared and nervous about being around poeple at all. I'm worried about now much further down I will sink.
Thank you all for posting and helping me to understand what this is. Please take care of you and stay safe and cautious.

[xYouMakeMeFeelSoLoonaticx]

I’ve worked in a grocery store for close to 3 years and a lot of the times I really don’t have the motivation to work but now that I most days just stay home and do online classes it’s so nice to get up and get outside and talk to some of the costumers even when its for a very short time.. it gives me a sense of having something to do instead of just staying home and feeling lazy. It’s also nice hearing all the nice comments from people about how I’m helping the community and so on.