Connection Through all Sorts of Means

Humans are social mammals and social interaction is needed to survive. The brain thrives in a community of humans, as there is a higher chance of survival in a group that provides protection and resources than for individuals on their own. The brain will naturally seek a certain social connection just as it would the basic needs for satisfying hunger and thirst, therefore keeping one healthier and safer.

In the new world of coronavirus, the physical and the virtual are at odds, yet both are real. The isolation has been difficult for some people who are eager to connect in-person. Other individuals cringe to consider being in someone else’s physical space anytime soon. How does the human brain decide on the social connection to comfort both desires?

Social strategies to connect could mean all sorts of things. Maybe it means being in a large group (physically distancing), spending time with family, or watching TV. All of which allow a sense of belonging. The most popular activities for socializing are spending time with a romantic partner, family, or friends. The most popular methods for connecting with others and having something in common are listening to music, watching TV, watching movies, eating favorite foods, time spent with pets, gaming, reading books, and following celebrities. The satisfaction one person’s brain gets from engaging with a book is as effective as another person’s brain during the social time at a party.

The longer you go without these sorts of connections, the brain will become more unhealthy by being anxious, nervous, or depressed because of the lack of needed resources. What’s important is not how you’re filling the social connection, but that your social connection is getting filled. We are not so separated from each other by social distancing, but more physical distancing while interdependent in social cohesion.

Lisa Blackwood MS MA LPC-S #19803 LCDC#4065 EMDR Certified