When considering social distancing, or what I would rightly label as physical distancing, there is a large deduction of what really binds us together in human social behavior. There are certain hormones in mammals, called social hormones that are released with humans, in the flesh, when interacting. These are oxytocin and vasopressin and they serve a unique role in helping us strengthen positive social behavior bonds with each other.
In absence of the interaction and physical distancing, we can default to our paranoid reptilian brain, where everyone is suspect as prey (a lack of trust), with mass does of fight/flight stress hormones are released and this causes our bodies energy to be devoted towards hypersensitiveness of the fright in the world.
The pattern keeps continuing with a large dose of narrative driven current events that is often negatively political or sensational to our eyes and ears, along with a social norm that everyone must keep away from each other out of fear of harm.
The more this continues, the more the separation and harm one will do to themselves and society. This heighten stage of stress hormones pumping adrenaline and norepinephrine causes fatigue, depression and a weaken immune system over time. None are good for you.
I’m seeing the stress being played out in social media, where communication is becoming more vile, people are beginning to cast blame and shame, compliance and social order is confusing, and the uncertainty for the future has become a desperation of security and normalcy that no one agrees to.
We only need to listen to ourselves and to begin the process of bringing back our social hormones. Work and hobbies will only bring so much. The human touch is the spirit that will bring most of normal back. We all need a hello from a stranger, a friendly handshake, a pat on the back, a close hug, that common bond we can all find in each other, if we only can start again by being the first to say, “How are you?”
