Loneliness and schizophrenia: How do you cope?

Does isolation contribute to schizophrenia? In my view, it certainly does. When an individual is isolated, they tend to dwell on thoughts and patterns that they wouldn't normally encounter in social settings. This solitude can lead to skewed perceptions and erroneous conclusions, which may ultimately result in severe consequences...☕

A craving for isolation can sometimes be a side effect of schizophrenia, but it isn't the underlying cause.

As for what actually triggers schizophrenia? Honestly, even modern American psychiatry hasn't cracked that code yet.

Loneliness isn't good for anyone, that's for sure.
The worst kind is when you feel even more alone standing in a crowd than when you're actually by yourself. I guess maybe even people struggling with schizophrenia feel that isolation more when they're around others than when they're on their own.

I feel lonely even when I'm surrounded by people. Just... pretty rejected, honestly. And I don't really have the energy to meet anyone new right now. Anyone got any actual advice for this?

People with IBM often have a tendency toward isolation even before any symptoms kick in, and that pattern just carries right through the illness itself. Because of that, I think it makes sense to view the social withdrawal as part of the condition rather than a separate issue. That said, I wouldn't go so far as to say personality alone drives the onset or progression of the disorder. We're talking about a complex, multi-faceted condition here—it's way too deep and serious to be caused simply by someone sitting alone and spiraling over their own thoughts. You can't just "drive yourself crazy" like that. If someone actually believes they are successfully losing their grip on reality, we're likely looking at something else entirely—something milder, more along the lines of neurotic disorders.

Patrick Johnson8 said:I feel lonely even when I'm surrounded by people. Just... pretty rejected, honestly. And I don't really have the energy to meet anyone new right now. Anyone got any actual advice for this?

You might want to elaborate a bit more on that.
Are you dealing with anything else besides this?
How long has this been going on? Did it hit you out of nowhere?

😕

Keith Jones76 said:People with IBM often have a tendency toward isolation even before any symptoms kick in, and that pattern just carries right through the illness itself. Because of that, I think it makes sense to view the social withdrawal as part of the condition rather than a separate issue. That said, I wouldn't go so far as to say personality alone drives the onset or progression of the disorder. We're talking about a complex, multi-faceted condition here—it's way too deep and serious to be caused simply by someone sitting alone and spiraling over their own thoughts. You can't just "drive yourself crazy" like that. If someone actually believes they are successfully losing their grip on reality, we're likely looking at something else entirely—something milder, more along the lines of neurotic disorders.

That is exactly it. You put into words what I’ve been ruminating on, though I could never articulate it quite so precisely. Lately, even my own internal monologue feels somewhat muddled and confusing.

If you don't mind me asking... Keith Jones76, what exactly is your field of work, and how long have you been in it? I mean it in the best way possible—your posts are truly excellent. 🙂

Regarding the topic of loneliness... Patrick Johnson8, if it helps to hear, I’ve felt profoundly lonely even when surrounded by people for a very long time now. Sometimes it’s because our ways of thinking differ, but mostly it’s because I feel emotionally detached, even from those closest to me. Perhaps it's a fear of being misunderstood, but more than anything, I've run into so much lack of empathy over the years that I’ve simply stopped trying. I’ll show up for coffee with the mindset of "let's just get this over with," and then I'm out. It is incredibly draining, so lately I've been stripping my social life down to the bare essentials. Just enough contact to maintain the connection, but with minimal actual interaction. Does that resonate with you at all? If I've expressed myself clearly enough.

Lawrence Rodriguez27 said:Does isolation contribute to schizophrenia? In my view, it certainly does. When an individual is isolated, they tend to dwell on thoughts and patterns that they wouldn't normally encounter in social settings. This solitude can lead to skewed perceptions and erroneous conclusions, which may ultimately result in severe consequences...☕

Isolation can stem from several different motivations...

Crisis management versus a state of permanent crisis. There needs to be a way to aggregate current issues, resolve them, and eventually return to the status quo... If we just settle into crisis mode, it becomes chronic...
Going rogue...

Schizoid personality structure—genuine schizoid personality, though some prefer calling it schizoid psychopathy. It’s characterized by an individual who, from early childhood, has consistently gravitated toward solitary pursuits, accompanied by a distinct pattern of affective disturbance...

3. Secondary schizoid personality structure. This occurs when an individual becomes vulnerable to specific emotional content—essentially a complex—due to various internal and external stressors. Because they lack the capacity to assimilate or process these complexes, they begin to accumulate them. Eventually, the buildup makes them almost impossible to deal with...
External triggers tend to act as catalysts for internal complexes. To avoid an imminent psychological breakdown caused by these activated tensions, an individual will often retreat into isolation as a defense mechanism. This results in a withdrawn, antisocial personality. Because their ego lacks the necessary structural integrity to navigate social settings, they frequently attempt to compensate for this deficit through metaphysical pursuits or an intense devotion to animals...

3. The paranoid personality structure...
Is it driven by internal or external factors? A person might choose solitude voluntarily, often fueled by a sense of vulnerability. That feeling becomes a primary driver for withdrawal, where one finds a certain security in isolation—safeguarding themselves through constant vigilance and the anticipation of potential threats...
Hypertrophied ego—or megalomania, if we’re being blunt—leads certain narcissistic personalities to believe they are fundamentally superior to everyone else. They convince themselves that others simply aren't worth their time because they're supposedly inferior in every conceivable way. In their minds, there’s just no point in even bothering to engage...

4. Neurotic personality disorders (anxiety, histrionic, phobic, depressive, etc.)

5. Depressive syndrome (no need for an explanation here)...

Does loneliness trigger schizophrenia? It depends on several variables... too many to list here. For a psychotic break to actually occur, certain elements have to align: a genetic predisposition, a schizoid temperament within one's own psychological makeup, and a "schizoid" environment. You know, that specific type of stress where you're constantly getting the wrong emotional responses from those closest to you... it just creates a perfect storm...
It’s possible from the very start, though certainly not a requirement...

Keith Jones76 said:People with IBM often have a tendency toward isolation even before any symptoms kick in, and that pattern just carries right through the illness itself. Because of that, I think it makes sense to view the social withdrawal as part of the condition rather than a separate issue. That said, I wouldn't go so far as to say personality alone drives the onset or progression of the disorder. We're talking about a complex, multi-faceted condition here—it's way too deep and serious to be caused simply by someone sitting alone and spiraling over their own thoughts. You can't just "drive yourself crazy" like that. If someone actually believes they are successfully losing their grip on reality, we're likely looking at something else entirely—something milder, more along the lines of neurotic disorders.

A significant number of people with schizophrenia actually exhibit high levels of extraversion. They are constantly engaging in social activities and communication, even if those interactions come across as awkward or bizarre...

Kenneth Campbell said:A significant number of people with schizophrenia actually exhibit high levels of extraversion. They are constantly engaging in social activities and communication, even if those interactions come across as awkward or bizarre...

A fitting illustration of this would be ginki—or rather, whoever was using those various handles like blured, janeway, or benz back then...🤣

Keith Jones76 said:You might want to elaborate a bit more on that.
Are you dealing with anything else besides this?
How long has this been going on? Did it hit you out of nowhere?

😕

No other issues. I just don't vibe with people or society. Felt this way my whole life. Honestly, I'd take a pet over ten "friends" who aren't actually there for you...

Kenneth Campbell said:Isolation can stem from several different motivations...

Crisis management versus a state of permanent crisis. There needs to be a way to aggregate current issues, resolve them, and eventually return to the status quo... If we just settle into crisis mode, it becomes chronic...
Going rogue...

Schizoid personality structure—genuine schizoid personality, though some prefer calling it schizoid psychopathy. It’s characterized by an individual who, from early childhood, has consistently gravitated toward solitary pursuits, accompanied by a distinct pattern of affective disturbance...

3. Secondary schizoid personality structure. This occurs when an individual becomes vulnerable to specific emotional content—essentially a complex—due to various internal and external stressors. Because they lack the capacity to assimilate or process these complexes, they begin to accumulate them. Eventually, the buildup makes them almost impossible to deal with...
External triggers tend to act as catalysts for internal complexes. To avoid an imminent psychological breakdown caused by these activated tensions, an individual will often retreat into isolation as a defense mechanism. This results in a withdrawn, antisocial personality. Because their ego lacks the necessary structural integrity to navigate social settings, they frequently attempt to compensate for this deficit through metaphysical pursuits or an intense devotion to animals...

3. The paranoid personality structure...
Is it driven by internal or external factors? A person might choose solitude voluntarily, often fueled by a sense of vulnerability. That feeling becomes a primary driver for withdrawal, where one finds a certain security in isolation—safeguarding themselves through constant vigilance and the anticipation of potential threats...
Hypertrophied ego—or megalomania, if we’re being blunt—leads certain narcissistic personalities to believe they are fundamentally superior to everyone else. They convince themselves that others simply aren't worth their time because they're supposedly inferior in every conceivable way. In their minds, there’s just no point in even bothering to engage...

4. Neurotic personality disorders (anxiety, histrionic, phobic, depressive, etc.)

5. Depressive syndrome (no need for an explanation here)...

Does loneliness trigger schizophrenia? It depends on several variables... too many to list here. For a psychotic break to actually occur, certain elements have to align: a genetic predisposition, a schizoid temperament within one's own psychological makeup, and a "schizoid" environment. You know, that specific type of stress where you're constantly getting the wrong emotional responses from those closest to you... it just creates a perfect storm...
It’s possible from the very start, though certainly not a requirement...

And honestly, some people just lack the social skills or the social intelligence to actually build and keep connections... or they're just boring, I guess.

So, do you actually know what a vulnerable personality structure is?

Kenneth Campbell said:A significant number of people with schizophrenia actually exhibit high levels of extraversion. They are constantly engaging in social activities and communication, even if those interactions come across as awkward or bizarre...

Some people try to make contact with others, but it doesn't really work out for them...

Patrick Johnson8 said:No other issues. I just don't vibe with people or society. Felt this way my whole life. Honestly, I'd take a pet over ten "friends" who aren't actually there for you...

There’s actually a lot more of that than people realize. I mean, do you have even one close friend you actually feel okay with?
I doubt anyone can actually have ten true friends. Maybe you know a dozen people, but those are usually just surface-level things. Real friendship takes so much work and time to build, so it seems kind of crazy to think someone has ten actual best friends.
If you don't have a pet yet, maybe get one? Pets help lower stress and just make life better, I think. A turtle, a bird, or a rabbit isn't that hard to take care of, but they give back so much.🙂
I have this really stubborn rabbit.😍
But, I guess, hanging out with an animal shouldn't be seen as a total replacement for being around people.
The bond with an animal is just... it's totally different from a bond with another person.

mistyranger42 said:And honestly, some people just lack the social skills or the social intelligence to actually build and keep connections... or they're just boring, I guess.

So, do you actually know what a vulnerable personality structure is?

Some people try to make contact with others, but it doesn't really work out for them...

There’s actually a lot more of that than people realize. I mean, do you have even one close friend you actually feel okay with?
I doubt anyone can actually have ten true friends. Maybe you know a dozen people, but those are usually just surface-level things. Real friendship takes so much work and time to build, so it seems kind of crazy to think someone has ten actual best friends.
If you don't have a pet yet, maybe get one? Pets help lower stress and just make life better, I think. A turtle, a bird, or a rabbit isn't that hard to take care of, but they give back so much.🙂
I have this really stubborn rabbit.😍
But, I guess, hanging out with an animal shouldn't be seen as a total replacement for being around people.
The bond with an animal is just... it's totally different from a bond with another person.

An acquaintance is someone you see a few times here and there. A friend is someone you hang out with often, even if you aren't inseparable. A best friend is someone who's there through thick and thin.
I have plenty of acquaintances. No friends. I thought I had a best friend once, but turns out he was just a poser...
No family either...
And I can't have a pet...
😢

Patrick Johnson8 said:An acquaintance is someone you see a few times here and there. A friend is someone you hang out with often, even if you aren't inseparable. A best friend is someone who's there through thick and thin.
I have plenty of acquaintances. No friends. I thought I had a best friend once, but turns out he was just a poser...
No family either...
And I can't have a pet...
😢

Does all of that frustrate you? Do you spiral into depression?
...because if it does... then loneliness can absolutely trigger mental health issues...
....loneliness isn't a natural state for a human being to live in... and it can carry some seriously heavy consequences...

Nothing really gets under my skin since I’m a pretty laid-back person... I don't spiral into depression, I just get hit by waves of melancholy every now and then, which feels normal enough to me...
It isn't a natural state, but you get used to it—kind of like an old man left all alone. It takes its toll. When you eventually have to start meeting people again, you just don't have the drive or the energy left in the tank...
Nobody strikes me as interesting enough to actually put in the effort to know them... that's why I say I feel lonely even when I'm surrounded by people...

Patrick Johnson8 said:An acquaintance is someone you see a few times here and there. A friend is someone you hang out with often, even if you aren't inseparable. A best friend is someone who's there through thick and thin.
I have plenty of acquaintances. No friends. I thought I had a best friend once, but turns out he was just a poser...
No family either...
And I can't have a pet...
😢

It’s just awful when someone you trusted and called your best friend lets you down, especially if you don't have anyone else to turn to.🙂
Maybe it was just some random misunderstanding that could be fixed, but I guess pride gets in the way?
Why can't you have a little pet, maybe something small?😕

Patrick Johnson8 said:Nothing really gets under my skin since I’m a pretty laid-back person... I don't spiral into depression, I just get hit by waves of melancholy every now and then, which feels normal enough to me...
It isn't a natural state, but you get used to it—kind of like an old man left all alone. It takes its toll. When you eventually have to start meeting people again, you just don't have the drive or the energy left in the tank...
Nobody strikes me as interesting enough to actually put in the effort to know them... that's why I say I feel lonely even when I'm surrounded by people...

People often feel lonely even when they're around others who are totally different from them, and after a best friend betrays you, it makes sense that you'd lose trust in people.
But I don't think that's a state you should just settle into or accept; you should never give up hope on finding a friendship and enjoying it.
What do you do for fun? Do you like any sports, or what are you usually interested in?
Since you like animals, maybe you could meet new people through that, like sharing interests.

Patrick Johnson8 said:Nothing really gets under my skin since I’m a pretty laid-back person... I don't spiral into depression, I just get hit by waves of melancholy every now and then, which feels normal enough to me...
It isn't a natural state, but you get used to it—kind of like an old man left all alone. It takes its toll. When you eventually have to start meeting people again, you just don't have the drive or the energy left in the tank...
Nobody strikes me as interesting enough to actually put in the effort to know them... that's why I say I feel lonely even when I'm surrounded by people...

...I think you're depressed. You have no drive, no energy, and nobody interests you... Sometimes, what looks like phlegmatic detachment at first glance can easily be mistaken for actual clinical depression...
...And that feeling of loneliness even when you're in a crowd? That can point toward a lack of self-respect and low self-esteem too....

mistyranger42 said:It’s just awful when someone you trusted and called your best friend lets you down, especially if you don't have anyone else to turn to.🙂
Maybe it was just some random misunderstanding that could be fixed, but I guess pride gets in the way?
Why can't you have a little pet, maybe something small?😕

People often feel lonely even when they're around others who are totally different from them, and after a best friend betrays you, it makes sense that you'd lose trust in people.
But I don't think that's a state you should just settle into or accept; you should never give up hope on finding a friendship and enjoying it.
What do you do for fun? Do you like any sports, or what are you usually interested in?
Since you like animals, maybe you could meet new people through that, like sharing interests.

My best friend is a complicated guy. He’s sharp, knows how to work a room, and gets along with everyone... I often feel like he only hangs out with me because he’s bored, and honestly, I can tell he looks down on me. Hard to blame him, though. I don't really have any qualities people tend to value. I just have the ones nobody cares about. Patience is one of them.

mistyranger42 said:It’s just awful when someone you trusted and called your best friend lets you down, especially if you don't have anyone else to turn to.🙂
Maybe it was just some random misunderstanding that could be fixed, but I guess pride gets in the way?
Why can't you have a little pet, maybe something small?😕

People often feel lonely even when they're around others who are totally different from them, and after a best friend betrays you, it makes sense that you'd lose trust in people.
But I don't think that's a state you should just settle into or accept; you should never give up hope on finding a friendship and enjoying it.
What do you do for fun? Do you like any sports, or what are you usually interested in?
Since you like animals, maybe you could meet new people through that, like sharing interests.

I feel lonely because I really am just built differently. How do I put it... if there’s a basket of Hershey’s bars and one single Lindt truffle, I’m picking the Lindt just because I want to see what it’s like. Everyone else just grabs the Hershey’s because that's what they're used to.
Obviously, you shouldn't lose hope. I haven't. At least, I don't think I have.
I spend my time browsing the web.😢
I like wolves, cats, cows, pigs, sheep... especially birds. But I can't keep them in my apartment.