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[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Solitudelarger.jpg|right|frame]]
[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Solitudelarger.jpg|right|frame]]
'''Solitude''' is a state of seclusion or '''isolation''', i.e. lack of contact with people. It may stem from bad relationships, deliberate choice, contagious disease, disfiguring features, repulsive personal habits, mental illness, or circumstances of employment or situation.
'''Solitude''' is a state of seclusion or isolation, i.e. lack of contact with people. It may stem from bad relationships, deliberate choice, contagious disease, disfiguring features, repulsive personal habits, mental illness, or circumstances of employment or situation.
Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may work, think or rest without being disturbed. It may be desired for the sake of [[Private|privacy]].
Short-term solitude is often valued as a [[time]] when one may [[work]], [[think]] or rest without being disturbed. It may be [[desired]] for the sake of [[Private|privacy]]. Many religions promote solitude for [[meditation]].
A distinction can be made between physical and mental seclusion. People may seek physical seclusion to remove distractions and make it easier to concentrate, [[reflection|reflect]], or [[meditation|meditate]]. However, this is not necessarily an end in and of itself. Once a certain capacity to resist distractions is achieved, people become less sensitive to distractions and more capable of maintaining mindfulness and staying inwardly absorbed and concentrated. Such people, unless on a mission of helping others, don't seek any interaction with the external physical world. Their mindfulness is their world, at least ostensibly.
A distinction can be made between physical and mental seclusion. People may seek physical seclusion to remove distractions and make it easier to concentrate, [[reflection|reflect]], or [[meditation|meditate]]. However, this is not necessarily an end in and of itself. Once a certain capacity to resist distractions is achieved, people become less sensitive to distractions and more capable of maintaining mindfulness and staying inwardly absorbed and concentrated. Such people, unless on a mission of helping others, don't seek any interaction with the external physical world. Their mindfulness is their world, at least ostensibly.
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<center>For lessons on the related [[topic]] of '''''[[Isolation]]''''' (Alienation), follow [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Isolation this link].</center>
<center>For lessons on the related [[topic]] of '''''[[Solitude]]''''', follow [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Isolation this link].</center>
==Health effects==
==Health effects==
Symptoms from externally imposed isolation often include anxiety, sensory [[illusion]]s, or even distortions of [[time]] and [[perception]]. However, this is the case when there is no stimulation of the sensory systems at all, and not only lack of contact with people. Thus, by having other things to keep one's mind busy, this is avoided. [http://www.eastandard.net/archives/august/wed25082004/executives/upfront/upfront02.htm]
Symptoms from externally imposed isolation often include anxiety, sensory [[illusion]]s, or even distortions of [[time]] and [[perception]]. However, this is the case when there is no stimulation of the sensory systems at all, and not only lack of contact with people. Thus, by having other things to keep one's mind busy, this is avoided. [http://www.eastandard.net/archives/august/wed25082004/executives/upfront/upfront02.htm]
==Other uses==
==Other uses==
===As a pleasure===
Solitude does not necessarily entail [[feelings]] of [[Isolation|loneliness]] coming into picture of an internal [[desire]] as opposed to an unmet longing for [[social]] [[contact]]. In the context of religious forms of solitude, persons who prefer [[silence]] find immense [[pleasure]] in their [[uniformity]] with [[cosmos]] even in a single room. [[Buddha]] attained [[enlightenment]] through uses of [[meditation]], depriving sensory input and bodily necessities, namely external desire sought throughout social [[interaction]] as one of them. The context of solitude is attainment of [[pleasure]] from within, rather than seeking it in the external world. In references of [[psychology]], as introverted individuals require spending time alone away from people to recharge, or are simply socially apathetic might find it a pleasurable [[environment]] to be busied with solitary preoccupations.
===As a punishment===
===As a punishment===
Isolation, in the form of [[solitary confinement]] is a punishment used in many countries throughout the world for prisoners accused of serious crimes, those who may be at risk in the prison population (such as pedophiles), those who may commit suicide and those unable to participate in the prison population due to sickness or injury.
Isolation, in the form of [[solitary confinement]] is a punishment used in many countries throughout the world for prisoners accused of serious crimes, those who may be at risk in the prison population (such as pedophiles), those who may commit suicide and those unable to participate in the prison population due to sickness or injury.
