The horrifying effects of solitary confinement

Famed English writer Charles Dickens noted in his journals the various physical and psychological deteriorations he saw in inmates in solitary confinement, when he toured the US in 1942. "They would pick at the fingers, unable to make eye contact, keep a conversation going, cringing posture and nervousness that led them to burst into tears," he wrote.

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Social segregation -

Social segregation can have an impact on how we react to stressors in the future. Being isolated from other humans can make us sensitive to stimuli and make us lose our ability to connect and bond with others.

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Decreased brain complexity -

Being sensory deprived and not having enough stimulation can be disastrous for the brain, which will slow down the production of new neurons. This will affect both learning and memory.

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Hippocampus -

A study conducted on expeditioners in Antarctica found that the monotony of being with the same people in the same place every day actually caused the participants' hippocampus to shrink. The hippocampus plays a major role in learning and memory.

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Death of brain cells -

Shrinking of the hippocampus leads to an acceleration in the death of brain cells, which has an impact on cognitive function. Indeed, inmates in solitary confinement can experience this.

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Timeframe -

And this process can happen quite quickly, too. A study conducted on mice found that motor regions in the brain shrank by 20% after just one month of social isolation.

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Serious mental health issues -

Being in solitary confinement can lead to inmates developing things such as paranoia. This is usually a result of high levels of anxiety experienced under those circumstances.

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Paranoia -

It’s not uncommon for inmates to develop an irrational fear of prison guards. Things such as the fear of being poisoned, being kept awake all night by banging on the door, and being spied on have been described by individuals in solitary confinement.

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Delirium -

But paranoia is not the only thing these inmates are at risk of developing. Delirium can actually happen in some cases. Inmates can be found having conversations with themselves, among other similar behaviors.

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Delirium -

"I would watch guys come to prison totally sane, and in three years they don't live in the real world anymore ... [one guy] would go out into the recreation yard, get naked, lie down and urinate all over himself. He would take his feces and smear it all over his face," said former inmate on California's death row Anthony Graves, who was exonerated and released after 18 years.

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Stimulation intolerance -

The more time spent in solitary confinement, the more socially intolerant inmates become. This can have disastrous consequences, including outbursts of aggression.

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Stimulation intolerance -

This behavior may end up triggering a never-ending cycle. An individual is released and becomes violent. The person becomes a repeat offender, is incarcerated again, and put in solitary confinement, and the cycle continues.

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Self-harm -

Both intentional and unintentional self-harm is unfortunately a reality for those who spend time in solitary confinement.

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Self-harm -

Thoughts about taking their own life are recurrent among people in these circumstances, and unfortunately many end up doing exactly that in the first year they are released from prison.

Sources: (Grunge)

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Lack of sunlight -

Inmates in solitary confinement will not have the needed daily sunlight exposure required to be healthy.

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Lack of sunlight -

Skin conditions, such as dermatitis, will likely develop. Flaky and itchy skin are common among those in solitary confinement.

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Weight loss -

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Weight loss -

A decreased appetite and digestive problems are usually the main culprits when it comes to weight loss in these circumstances. This is often related to the inmate's mental state.

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Musculoskeletal pain -

Solitary confinement can be physically painful. From muscles, to bones, tendons, and nerves, all parts of the body can indeed be affected.

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Musculoskeletal pain -

This is mostly due to the lack of movement. Being confined to a small space without physical activity can be very deteriorating for the body.

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Musculoskeletal pain -

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Cardiovascular complications -

Being in solitary confinement is a very stressful situation. And we all know how harmful the effects of high levels of stress for a long period of time can have on our cardiovascular health.

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Cardiovascular complications -

Studies have found that the incidence of hypertension amongst inmates in solitary confinement is three times higher than those in the maximum-security general population.

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Cardiovascular complications -

High blood pressure affects around 48% of male inmates between 27 to 45 years old in solitary confinement.

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Cardiovascular complications -

Loneliness, in general, is linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes, and those in solitary confinement are indeed more vulnerable to these.

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Sensory deprivation -

Light and sound are of extreme importance in order for us to be healthy. Having limited stimulation can take a toll on our senses, namely our sight.

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Eyesight -

Being locked in a small box does not allow for inmates to engage their long-distance vision. This alone can contribute to eyesight deterioration.

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Hearing -

Similarly, being deprived of a variety of sounds can lead to extreme sensitivity. After a long period of time in solitary confinement, inmates may find themselves very sensitive to noises.

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Involuntary movements -

You might have seen these in prison movies, but they do happen in real life. Rocking back and forth and shaking can indeed happen during solitary confinement.

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Charles Dickens' account -

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Social segregation -

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Decreased brain complexity -

Being sensory deprived and not having enough stimulation can be disastrous for the brain, which will slow down the production of new neurons. This will affect both learning and memory.

Shutterstock

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Hippocampus -

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Death of brain cells -

Shrinking of the hippocampus leads to an acceleration in the death of brain cells, which has an impact on cognitive function. Indeed, inmates in solitary confinement can experience this.

Shutterstock

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Timeframe -

And this process can happen quite quickly, too. A study conducted on mice found that motor regions in the brain shrank by 20% after just one month of social isolation.

Shutterstock

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Serious mental health issues -

Being in solitary confinement can lead to inmates developing things such as paranoia. This is usually a result of high levels of anxiety experienced under those circumstances.

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Paranoia -

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Delirium -

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Delirium -

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Stimulation intolerance -

The more time spent in solitary confinement, the more socially intolerant inmates become. This can have disastrous consequences, including outbursts of aggression.

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Stimulation intolerance -

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Self-harm -

Both intentional and unintentional self-harm is unfortunately a reality for those who spend time in solitary confinement.

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Self-harm -

Thoughts about taking their own life are recurrent among people in these circumstances, and unfortunately many end up doing exactly that in the first year they are released from prison.

Sources: (Grunge)

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The horrifying effects of solitary confinement

Isolation can kill

03/09/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Isolation

Many of us are familiar with the concept of solitary confinement. We've all seen inmates in prison movies spending time in "the hole," but have you ever wondered what the effects of this would be on human health? That's exactly what we're covering in this gallery.

Click through and learn more about how solitary confinement affects our bodies and minds.