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I am in touch with friends all over the world. Those in esp. isolating "lockdown", from the Philippines to LA, are exhibiting palpable deterioration of mental focus, depression levels, motivation and of mental health in general. They are first to say so but one can hear it too.
2/Global human business collaborations are deteriorating based entirely on ‘lockdown’ isolation levels. In countries where people are forbidden to congregate or restricted to indoors, deadlines are falling apart, people’s productivity is painfully slowed, their minds dulling. Why
3/ is this a surprise? You can hear the hopelessness and loss of agency in their voices. Consciously or not they have given up believing in a world in which it matters if you make something new or have an impact. They sound like prisoners of society I’ve spoken to in very closed
4/ regimes. But it doesn’t matter; if you can’t plan a book launch or play or restaurant opening without Big Brither closing it again, why be motivated? Giving up is easier. In contrast, while this is not an epidemiological endorsement, in SD, Idaho, where masking was voluntary
5/ and people were congregating to worship and visit in human community, joy was still present, mental well-being, initiative and entrepreneurship and courage and curiosity. You can ‘save lives’ but kill human society forever. People need freedom and human context to stay sane.
6/ The mental health damage of isolation and learned helplessness is well documented and can scar people forever, change the way the brain works forever. It’s a lasting trauma that can lead to psychosis esp for kids and elderly and young adults.
