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Julian Assange was isolated for more than a decade. Here’s what that does to the body and mind

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carol-maher-217811">Carol Maher</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/johanna-badcock-995697">Johanna Badcock</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067">The University of Western Australia</a> Anyone who lived through the COVID pandemic would likely understand that even a small period of isolation can cause <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35787541/">physical and mental stress</a>. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange – <a href="https://theconversation.com/julian-assange-will-be-freed-after-striking-plea-deal-with-us-authorities-233210">who will return to Australia</a> after reaching a plea deal with the US Department of Justice – is <a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/his-health-is-very-risky-assange-s-brother-fears-for-his-life-20240327-p5ffjw">reported to have suffered</a> various mental and physical challenges during his almost 15 years in some form of isolation. Assange was first arrested in Britain in 2010 after Swedish authorities said they wanted to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/17/julian-assange-sweden">question him over sex crime allegations</a>. After exhausting legal avenues to stop an extradition to Sweden, in June 2012 he entered <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/15/julian-assange-ecuador-london-embassy-how-he-became-unwelcome-guest">Ecuador’s embassy in London</a>, where he remained for seven years. In early 2019, he was <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1S73H5/">jailed for skipping bail</a> and held at London’s Belmarsh prison where he spent most of the following five years fighting extradition to the US. Now, he’s coming home. While we have no idea how Assange is coping from being cooped up inside for so long with few visitors, we do know that isolation can have <a href="https://theconversation.com/my-own-prison-ordeal-gave-me-a-taste-of-what-assange-may-be-feeling-hes-out-but-the-chilling-effect-on-press-freedom-remains-233215">a severe negative impact</a> on many people. <iframe id="qxq2l" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/qxq2l/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> <h2>How physical inactivity impacts your body</h2> Physical activity is vital for <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/articlepdf/2712935/jama_piercy_2018_sc_180005.pdf">overall health</a>. It keeps your heart strong, helps manage weight, and builds muscle and bone strength. Regular exercise also lifts your mood, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and sharpens your mind. Plus, it boosts your <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7195025/">immune system</a>, making you more resistant to infections and diseases. When you don’t move enough, especially in isolation, your health can take a hit. Muscles weaken and joints stiffen, making you less strong and flexible. Your <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/01.CIR.102.9.975">heart health</a> suffers, too, raising the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes because your heart isn’t getting the workout it needs. Metabolic issues such as obesity and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6908414/">type 2 diabetes</a> become more common with inactivity, especially if you don’t have access to healthy food. Isolation often means less fresh air and sunlight, both crucial for good health. Poor ventilation can lead to <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/8/2927/pdf">respiratory problems</a>. Lack of sunlight can cause <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-pdf/95/6/2630/9067013/jcem2630.pdf">vitamin D deficiency</a>, weakening bones and the immune system, and increasing the risk of fractures. These effects fit with the reports that Assange suffered a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/23/today-i-will-marry-the-love-of-my-life-julian-assanges-fiancee">mini-stroke</a> in 2021 and a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/18/julian-assange-press-freedom-wikileaks-uk-high-court">broken rib</a> from persistent coughing fits while in isolation. <h2>What about mental health?</h2> Social disconnection comes in two main forms, both of which have serious consequences for our mental health. The first is social isolation. The reasons for being isolated are many and varied, including geographical distance, lack of access to transport, or incarceration. The end result is the same: you have few relationships, social roles or group memberships, and limited social interaction. The second form of social disconnection is more invisible but just as harmful. <a href="https://psychology.org.au/for-the-public/psychology-topics/loneliness">Loneliness</a> is that subjective, unpleasant feeling of wanting but lacking satisfying relationships with others. You can be isolated and not feel lonely, but the two are often unwelcome bedfellows. Social connection is not a luxury. It’s a fundamental need, as essential to our health as food and water. Just as hunger reminds us to eat, <a href="https://healthymale.org.au/health-article/what-is-loneliness-and-social-isolation">loneliness acts as a signal</a> alerting us that our social relationships are weak and need to be improved if we are to remain healthy. The science around the health impacts of social disconnection is clear, especially when it is prolonged. So much so, the World Health Organization recently launched a <a href="https://www.who.int/groups/commission-on-social-connection">Commission on Social Connection</a> to increase awareness of the impact of social isolation and loneliness on health and have it recognised as a global health priority. Substantial evidence shows social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer cognitive functioning and an increased risk of dementia, though possibly in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9995915/">different ways</a>. Among adults aged 50 years and over, chronic (meaning persistent and severe) loneliness and social isolation may increase the risk of dementia by <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13651501.2021.1959616">around 50%</a>. A lack of cognitive stimulation that naturally occurs when interacting with others, whether it’s old friends or strangers, might explain <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9995915/">the link</a> between social isolation and cognitive difficulties (think “use it or lose it”). On the other hand, loneliness <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9995915/">may impact cognitive health</a> through its effects on emotional wellbeing. It’s <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-13049-9">a well-known risk factor</a> for developing depression, anxiety and suicidality. For instance, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35583561/">studies show</a> the chances of developing depression in adults is more than double in people who often feel lonely, compared with those who rarely or never feel lonely. Other research examining 500,000 middle-aged adults over nine years showed living alone doubled the risk of dying by suicide for men, while loneliness <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33096330">increased the risk of hospitalisation</a> for self-harm in both men and women. In a <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf">2023 report</a>, the US Surgeon General’s advisory concluded: <blockquote> Given the totality of the evidence, social connection may be one of the strongest protective factors against self-harm and suicide among people with and without serious underlying mental health challenges. </blockquote> <h2>What about after release?</h2> When a person leaves long-term isolation, they’ll face many challenges as they re-enter society. The world will have changed. There’s a lot to catch up on, from technological advancements to shifts in social norms. In addition to these broader changes, there’s a need to focus on rebuilding physical and mental health. Health issues that developed during isolation can <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30460-8/fulltext?cid=in%3Adisplay%3Alfhtn0&dclid=CNKCgb7nle0CFVUkjwodG0YCkg">persist or worsen</a>. A weakened immune system might struggle with new infections in a post-COVID world. To navigate this transition, it’s important to establish a routine that includes regular exercise, nutritious meals and comprehensive medical and psychological care. Gradually increasing social interactions can also help in rebuilding relationships and social connections. These steps are supportive in restoring overall health and wellbeing in a changed world.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/233214/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carol-maher-217811">Carol Maher</a>, Professor, Medical Research Future Fund Emerging Leader, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/johanna-badcock-995697">Johanna Badcock</a>, Adjunct Professor, School of Psychological Science | Freelance Research Consultant, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067">The University of Western Australia</a> Image credits: Ray Tang/Shutterstock Editorial This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/julian-assange-was-isolated-for-more-than-a-decade-heres-what-that-does-to-the-body-and-mind-233214">original article</a>. </div>

Mind

For some LGBTQ+ older people, events like World Pride can be isolating – we need to better understand how to support them

<a href="https://sydneyworldpride.com/">World Pride</a> has come to Sydney, with the annual <a href="https://sydneyworldpride.com/events/mardi-gras-parade/">Mardi Gras Parade</a> on Saturday having returned to its Oxford Street home for the first time in three years. The 17-day festival is expected to host 500,000 participants over more than 300 events. It is an opportunity to celebrate all things queer, and a good time to take stock of the changes LGBTQ+ older people have experienced, and the challenges they continue to face. LGBTQ+ people aged in their 70s, 80s and 90s have witnessed extraordinary social change regarding gender and sexual diversity. For example, in Australia, same-sex marriage is now legal, <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/where-transgender-is-no-longer-a-diagnosis/">Gender Identity Disorder</a> has been removed as a clinical diagnosis, and all states have an equal age of consent for homosexual and heterosexual sex. These have been hard-fought gains after many years of adversity and advocacy on the part of LGBTQ+ older people, among others. Each year, the <a href="https://www.78ers.org.au/">78ers</a> – who were involved in the Sydney marches and protests between June and August 1978 – take pride of place towards the front of the parade. <h2>Loneliness and social isolation</h2> Despite these achievements, the consequences of living most of one’s life in a homophobic and transphobic society have been considerable, particularly in terms of mental illness and social isolation. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00918369.2021.2005999?journalCode=wjhm20">Australian</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34326557/">US</a> research indicates loneliness is more common among lesbian, gay and bisexual older people than the general population. This is particularly so for those who live alone and are not in a relationship. Similar findings are reported in relation to <a href="https://www.lgbtagingcenter.org/resources/pdfs/LGBT%20Aging%20and%20Health%20Report_final.pdf">transgender older people</a>, although more research is needed. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00918369.2021.2005999?journalCode=wjhm20">Loneliness</a> is also more common among lesbian and gay older people who are disconnected from LGBTQ+ communities and who hold negative attitudes towards their own same-sex attraction. For LGBTQ+ older people experiencing social isolation and loneliness, what might be their experience of watching World Pride from a distance? What might it be like navigating rainbow paraphernalia while shopping at <a href="https://www.coles.com.au/about/sustainability/better-together/our-team/pride">Coles</a> (a World Pride partner)? How might they perceive the glitz and glamour of the Mardi Gras Parade? World Pride may be challenging for those who don’t feel an attachment to LGBTQ+ communities or who feel negative about their own sexuality. And this may reinforce a sense of disconnection. But some may gain comfort from witnessing the sense of community on display. It may even strengthen their perceived connection to other LGBTQ+ people. And, for those who are not open about their sexuality or authentic gender, it may support their journey to “come out” later in life. <h2>The impact of discrimination</h2> For many LGBTQ+ older people, the experience of discrimination remains very real in their lives. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33770516/">Past and recent discrimination</a> leads to delays seeking treatment and support, simply because people expect to be discriminated against when accessing services. In Australia, previous discrimination has been found to predict <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00918369.2021.2005999?journalCode=wjhm20">loneliness</a> and <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society/article/abs/recent-versus-lifetime-experiences-of-discrimination-and-the-mental-and-physical-health-of-older-lesbian-women-and-gay-men/90988215582414EA0AB7936B6384FC97">lower mental health</a> among older lesbian and gay people. In the US, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6779303/">microaggressions</a> – small everyday interactions that reinforce the experience of being “other” – have predicted greater impairment, higher rates of depression and lower quality of life among LGBTQ+ people aged 80 and over. There remain major gaps in evidence on the issues faced by LGBTQ+ older people, particularly for bisexual, queer, transgender and nonbinary older people. This is mainly due to the failure to systematically collect inclusive data on gender and sexual diversity, through variables such as those recommended by the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/standards/standard-sex-gender-variations-sex-characteristics-and-sexual-orientation-variables/latest-release">Australian Bureau of Statistics</a>. <h2>Strengths and resilience</h2> This year, older people seemed to occupy a more prominent place in the Mardi Gras Parade. Perhaps this is because of the natural ageing of our community activists. Older people were also represented in the wider World Pride festival, such as in the theatre production <a href="https://sydneyworldpride.com/events/all-the-sex-ive-ever-had/">All the Sex I’ve Ever Had</a>, in which older Sydney residents reflect on the evolution of their sexuality over the course of their lives. A festival like World Pride showcases the strengths and resilience of LGBTQ+ people and communities. The organisation of such an event should not be underestimated. This reflects LGBTQ+ people’s high level of civic engagement and commitment to giving back to society, as demonstrated by their greater likelihood of being <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0312407X.2021.1899256">volunteers</a> and <a href="https://www.caregiving.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2015_CaregivingintheUS_Final-Report-June-4_WEB.pdf">caregivers</a>. And the contribution of volunteers and caregivers during the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and ‘90s is not forgotten. LGBTQ+ older people generally are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5241752/">resilient and maintain good health</a>. Many report increased <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-021-00653-z">confidence and self-esteem</a>, compared with when they were younger. And many have created their own families – their families of choice – to support each other in later life. But we don’t know enough about their needs and how to provide them with inclusive services as they get older. World Pride is an opportunity to reflect on the hard-won gains but not ignore the challenges ahead. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/for-some-lgbtq-older-people-events-like-world-pride-can-be-isolating-we-need-to-better-understand-how-to-support-them-200533" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Caring

Australia’s ‘most isolated’ property could be yours

A parcel of land in Tasmania is up for grabs, but unlike other vacant lots on the market right now, this one offers seclusion and undisturbed ocean views. The 100-acre lot is located on the western side of King Island, Bungaree, overlooking the Southern Ocean. According to <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/253-buttons-road-bungaree-tas-7256-2017573996?gclid=Cj0KCQiAg_KbBhDLARIsANx7wAw9ka8CM9bZOC-j1ZlJxaoSebxdZwvNNYs1NYPIUosFh-7dIBZZF5waAr97EALw_wcB?utm_source=nine.com.au&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=editorial-content" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the listing</a>, made through Circa Heritage and Lifestyle Property Specialists, the block serves as the perfect opportunity “to create an oasis” fit for nature lovers, environmentalists or “anyone in search of seclusion and privacy”. Along with its proximity to the ocean, the property includes a heart-shaped dam and creek that runs into the ocean. There are no other properties in sight either, so if its new owner builds their dream home they will just have the birds, fish, and kangaroos to keep them company. “It is said there is 'something special' about the water quality on this acreage with it's heart shaped dam and permanent creek running to the ocean where thousands of crayfish were released by the Tasmanian Government and where the locals say the crayfish from these waters gown three years faster than anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere!” the listing says. “Add to this abalone fishing at your fingertips, an enormous array of fish and bird species passing through throughout the year from the Northern Hemisphere, a private sandy swimming and surfing beach, a well-protected bay for launching your own boat safely and easily and even a cray fishing licence available and you have what can only be described as a nature lover's paradise.” The property has potential for cattle, sheep and goats, while abalone and cray fishing are on its doorstep. While it is isolated and private, the property’s future owner can still socialise, with the island offering golf courses, cafes and restaurants at its heart and Melbourne at just a 45-minute flight away. “'253 Buttons Road' offers the opportunity to create a stunning and secluded family home, holiday retreat, boutique tourism venture or off-grid, eco-friendly haven in a pristine and unspoiled location,” the listing reads. Images: Circa Heritage and Lifestyle Property Specialists

Real Estate

Targeting shooters: technology that can isolate the location of gunshots

Inexpensive microphone arrays deployed in urban settings can be used to pinpoint the location of gunshots and help police respond instantly to the scene of crimes, scientists say. The process works by recognising that a gunshot produces two distinct sounds: the muzzle blast, and the supersonic shockwave that follows it. Luisa Still of Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Germany, told a meeting of the <a href="https://acousticalsociety.org/asa-meetings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acoustical Society of America in Denver, Colorado</a>, this week that by using those two signals – in a process akin to that by which seismologists track seismic waves from earthquakes – police departments armed with the right equipment could pinpoint the location of the shot within seconds. It’s not as straightforward as it sounds. In an urban environment, buildings and other structures can reflect, refract or absorb sound waves, causing the sounds of the shot to come at the microphones from any number of directions. But it turns out, Still says, that it only takes two such sensor arrays to locate the source of a gunshot — and a good computer can do so very quickly. In tests, her team began on a rifle range, where they confirmed that a pair of such microphone arrays could indeed determine the location of the shooter to a high degree of accuracy. They then moved to an urban environment, where they repeated the experiment, though in this case the shooter was replaced with a propane gas cannon of the type used by farmers to scare away crop-eating birds. Again, two microphone arrays were all that were needed to zero in on the source of the “shot”. Not that this can work anywhere, any time. Still’s signal-location algorithms require maps of the surrounding buildings, the walls of which might affect the sound and, in extreme cases, create “blind spots” if microphone arrays aren’t properly deployed. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p192812-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> She also notes that research is ongoing as to whether it is better to put microphones at ground level or atop neighbouring buildings. There’s also continuing research around how many might be needed in complex urban cores, where there are a lot of buildings of varying height and echo patterns can become very convoluted. “We still need to evaluate [that],” she says. There’s also the need to weed out noises that sound like gunshots, such as firecrackers, car-engine backfires and anything else that makes a sudden bang. “We are working on classification methods,” Still says, noting that these involve computerised “deep learning” methods that can be trained to distinguish such sounds. Could similar sensors be deployed within a school building in order to locate a school shooter even more quickly that is currently possible? Still was asked. “Oh, yeah,” she said. “I think that would be applicable.” Though she noted that it might also be acoustically “very challenging” to put into practice. Later that same day, 19 school children and two adults were killed in Uvalde, Texas, in America’s worst grade-school shooting in nearly a decade. Would the death toll have been lower if gunshot sensors such as Still’s were widely deployed? Who knows? But it was one of the most stunningly prescient scientific presentations imaginable, because she spoke less than an hour before the Uvalde gunman opened fire. It was far too late for her research to be able to deflect the tragedy that was about to unfold, but close enough to it to underscore the urgency of what she was doing. <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=192812&title=Targeting+shooters%3A+technology+that+can+isolate+the+location+of+gunshots" width="1" height="1" /> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/technology-isolate-location-gunshots/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/richard-a-lovett" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richard A Lovett</a>. Richard A Lovett is a Portland, Oregon-based science writer and science fiction author. He is a frequent contributor to Cosmos. Image: Getty Images </div>

Technology

New contender for loneliest house in the world

What was previously known as the “world’s loneliest house” may now only be the world’s second loneliest house, thanks to a new contender found in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains. The previous title-holder is a home located on a deserted island near Iceland, which has sat empty for almost a century, managing to look extremely picturesque while doing so. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPMnlMVg5cD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPMnlMVg5cD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by STYLE MAGAZINES (@stylemagazines)</a> </div> </blockquote> The challenger that has emerged is called the Buffa di Perrero, and it is located on Monte Cristallo in the Dolomite Mountains. The house is carved into the side of a sheer rock face, and overlooks a sharp drop, but still features brick walls, a roof, four framed windows, and a camping chair. It’s believed that war is the reason for the hut’s strange location; a number of ‘bivouacs’ were built by Italian soldiers during World War I as a way to gain strategic advantage over enemies. A bivouac shelter is a makeshift campsite used primarily by soldiers, backpackers, or mountain climbers. The shelters were used by soldiers to rest and store their gear. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Aoz22CQdj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Aoz22CQdj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by FiudaKatana (@fiuda710)</a> </div> </blockquote> Climbers can access the hut via a mountain trail, or an improvised rope ladder, but locals warn that accessing the abode requires a “high level of fitness”. The Via Ferrata, or ‘Iron Path’, features steel ladders and cables added for particularly treacherous parts of the trail. A series of photos and videos posted to Instagram in 2019 by one intrepid adventurer show a man sitting on the camping chair at the front of the home, as well as a video of some of the cables on the trail leading to the hut. The caption reads, “This is my new bivouac, you want to live here with me?” Local newspaper Il Dolomiti reported that the hut had been rendered unusable for climbers after the roof gave way. Images taken by a mountain rescue team show snow having come through a collapsed section of the roof. Image: Instagram

Real Estate

Duchess Kate in isolation

Kensington Palace has made the announcement that the Duchess Kate is in isolation after she came into contact with a person with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The royal will no longer be able to go to the thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral or a tea party at Buckingham Palace with the Duke of Cambridge to mark the NHS' 73rd anniversary on Monday. A spokesperson said: "Last week the Duchess of Cambridge came into contact with someone who has subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. "Her Royal Highness is not experiencing any symptoms, but is following all relevant government guidelines and is self-isolating at home." <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842245/kate-middleton-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/18b41ae97e764056a8f5770f89b3e13a" /> Image: Getty The Duchess of Cambridge has received both vaccines, however she was put straight into self-isolation after she received word she came across a positive case. Kate’s last public outing was to Wimbledon on Friday, where she watched matches on one of the outer courts. Prince William contracted Covid last spring but thankfully was able to carry on with telephone and online engagements.

Caring

The world’s loneliest house

A single white building has been sitting empty for almost 100 years on the side of a hill in Ellidaey, a tiny, remote island south of Iceland. The island has been unoccupied since the 1930s, when the handful of families living there moved to the mainland to pursue a better life. Despite the growth of unusual theories accounting for its continued abandonment, such as acting as a rich billionaire’s retreat in the event of a zombie apocalypse or that singer Bjork owned the house, its actual history is less exciting. Since the island is home to flocks of puffins, the house is a lodge that was built by the Ellidaey Hunting Association. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841484/island-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/685abc4d87504afe999f2df03c60642c" /> Though the house has no electricity, running water, or indoor plumbing, the building includes a sauna and stunning views. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/_crgGFpfb-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/_crgGFpfb-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Gogwalk (@gogwalk)</a> </div> </blockquote> The island is also listed as a nature reserve and protected area, as storm petrels and other sea birds use it as a major nesting area. Despite its protected status, tourists can still take a day trip to catch a glimpse of the isolated island. Images: Escape.com.au

International Travel

Prince Harry isolating in preparation for rush back to UK

Prince Harry is reportedly in isolation at his California home in case he has to rush back home to the UK in the event Prince Philip’s condition worsens. The 99-year-old was rushed to King Edward VII hospital in London on Tuesday after he complained of “feeling unwell”, a statement from Buckingham Palace said. Reports claim the Duke of Sussex is joined by wife, Meghan Markle and their one-year-old son Archie in isolation at their Montecito home. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839958/marlon-brando-15.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/df060bb322a44dee8066703a766bfba6" /> Prince Harry has reportedly made arrangements to fly privately if the situation calls for it and is kept “regularly informed” of his grandfather’s condition. British tabloids claim the royal family have immunity in the UK when it comes to travelling, and therefore Harry would be allowed to travel freely without having to quarantine.

Caring

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson self-isolating

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been ordered to self-isolate as he came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. He was identified as a close contact by NHS Test and Trace on Sunday after a meeting with a group of MPs. “He will carry on working from Downing Street, including on leading the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic,” a Downing Street spokesperson said on Sunday. “The PM is well and does not have any symptoms of COVID-19.” Johnson was admitted to hospital back in April after testing positive for COVID-19 on March 27th. He was the first major leader to reveal a COVID-19 diagnosis.

News

Lonely great-grandmother tells family she “wants to die” after 8 months in isolation

A lonely great-grandmother has broken her family’s heart when she admitted she “just wants to die” after spending eight months isolated in a care home during the pandemic. Relatives told reporters that their beloved, sweet grandma Doreen Tilly was “full of life” when she celebrated her 100th birthday at the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown. However, after months away from loved ones, the great-grandmother, who lives in a home in Scotland, has made a heartbreaking admission that she doesn’t want to live any longer. Doreen’s family told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/i-just-want-die-scots-22975283" target="_blank">Daily Record</a> they are “devastated” at her deterioration since March. Sonia Dixon, 37, said: “The difference in my nan is just devastating to see. “Before, she was full of life and thrived on regular visits from her family. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838720/grandmother-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d13c7c14295b478aa8a9e0a42c7e0a2d" /> “While she has outlived her own two children, she has eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren, almost all of whom live in the area.” The UK Government has said it will review its approach to visiting people in care homes when England’s second national lockdown comes to an end. However Sonia said the government’s response is not enough and the enforced separation has been too much for her great-grandmother. “I can’t bear for this to go on any longer,” she said. “I’m watching her fade away with the loneliness – she has told me she just wants to die during the outdoor visits that I have been allowed. “She has become really down and has been prescribed antidepressants for the first time in her life at 100 years old. “People in care homes should have legal rights to see their families properly and I’d support any move to make it happen.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838721/grandmother.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8863d05dee5e436597ad83512f970636" /> Retired pub manager Doreen is a resident at care firm HC-One’s Woodside Court Care Home in Fife. Sonia, a mum-of-one, said the family was offered “very limited indoor visits” for one person – or more outdoor visits for additional people. “In the end, we had to go with the outdoor socially distanced visits so Nan could see all of her family,” she said. “For someone who is 100, surely it should be up to them how much they see family members. “The home say they are just following the rules but, between them and the Scottish Government, they need to get this sorted out.” Doreen’s plea to reunite with her family follows just weeks after another Fife care home resident, 104-year-old Mary Fowler, was recorded begging to see loved ones again. Mary, who lives in the Balfarg Care Home, has only seen her children briefly through a window since March. In her message, she said: “It’s cutting me to bits. “I must see my kids, because time is getting on for me. “I must see my children and make things like they used to be. “Please help me. Help me. Please, please help.” In October, Scotland relaxed the rules of visiting residents. Indoor visits are no longer limited to 30 minutes and can instead last up to four hours. Visitors were also allowed to hold hands with residents as long as they followed COVID rules. Six visitors from two households, including children, were able to attend outdoor visits which can last up to one hour. However, new five-tier rules came into force in Scotland last Monday. Where Doreen lives, residents aren’t allowed to meet anyone who isn’t in their household indoors inside a home. Bosses at care company HC-One said: “Our caring colleagues know every resident in our homes and many relatives. “They understand how important visiting is and how difficult it is for all those who have missed out on precious moments over recent months. “While this is a challenging time for everyone, we must all work together to protect residents. “With safety at the forefront of everything we do, a very difficult balancing act needs to be achieved which considers the health and wellbeing of all residents and the threat of coronavirus.”

Caring

How coronavirus self-isolation fatigue may lead to more beach drownings this summer

The easing of physical distancing restrictions can’t come soon enough for those tired of self-isolation, and for many the beach represents a welcome therapy after an extended time indoors and alone. In Australia, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-26/coronavirus-crowds-sydney-beaches-again-despite-covid-19-risks/12185926">popular beaches in Sydney</a>, including the iconic Bondi Beach, were completely closed to public access during the government-imposed lockdown period. When they reopened under restricted conditions in late April (fall in the southern hemisphere), the unexpectedly large crowds led authorities to close them again. More recently, crowded beaches in the <a href="https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-premier-shocked-by-packed-toronto-beaches-warns-covid-19-fight-is-not-over-1.4995033">Great Lakes</a>, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/coronavirus-comes-spring-break-locals-close-florida-beaches-after-governor-n1163741">Florida</a>, <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/galveston-beaches-see-uptick-in-crowds-as-city-takes-additional-measures-to-protect-visitors-from-covid-19/285-6bc76e6b-a076-40ac-8a22-a714e8ba0dfc">Texas</a>, <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-26/crowds-masks-venice-beach-memorial-day-weekend">California</a> and the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/brits-flock-to-the-beach-amid-medics-warning-of-second-wave-20200625-p555y7.html">United Kingdom</a> show that people are eager to find their spot on the sand. While going to the beach to bathe or swim is seen as an enjoyable recreational experience, aside from social distancing concerns, beaches can be dangerous environments and it is <a href="http://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-19-389-2019">not uncommon for drownings</a> to occur. Unfortunately, there are several COVID-19-related factors that have the potential to significantly increase the number of beach drownings and rescues. Beach hazards in a time of COVID-19 First, many of those people seeking out beaches may be infrequent beachgoers, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2014.10.011">unfamiliar with beach hazards, such as rip currents, and safety practices</a>, including strategies on how to react when caught in a rip current as recommended by the <a href="http://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-1003-2017">Break the Grip of the Rip campaign</a> in the United States. Second, summer travel plans have been altered for many, meaning local and non-holiday beaches — many of which are not patrolled by lifeguards — may see larger crowds and could put <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212349">bystanders who attempt rescues</a> at greater risk. Third, and most important, in normal years, lifeguard services would intervene to ensure that people don’t put themselves into dangerous situations. This year is different. Several jurisdictions from the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-52038489">U.K.</a> and the <a href="https://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/20200608/covid-furloughs-meant-no-warning-flags-on-holland-beach-as-two-boys-drowned">Great Lakes</a> have cancelled their lifesaving programs due to COVID-19-related budget and health concern restraints. Coronavirus-related staff cuts and furloughs prevented Holland State Park in Michigan from setting up the flags to warn swimmers of the daily hazard along that section of Lake Michigan. The <a href="https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2020/06/double-drowning-tragedy-underscores-danger-of-great-lakes.html">lack of warning flags and lifeguards has already been blamed for the drownings</a> of a six-year-old and a 17-year-old on June 6. This is just but one example of how cutting funding to beach safety programs could cost lives. Masking the truth about the surf hazard There are interesting parallels between drowning prevention and efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve. Many people do not wear a mask in public despite evidence that masks reduce the <a href="https://today.tamu.edu/2020/06/12/texas-am-study-face-masks-critical-in-preventing-spread-of-covid-19/">potential for COVID-19 transmission</a>. For example, if you have gone grocery shopping and avoided infection, you may become complacent and feel that masks and hand-washing are unnecessary. Or you may bend to peer pressure if you meet up with friends who are not wearing masks or social distancing. These same behaviours come into play with drownings. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3424-7">Evidence suggests</a> that if you didn’t drown on your last visit to the beach, you’ll be confident that you won’t drown on your next visit — despite changing waves, tides and other conditions. Or if you are with a group of friends who are better swimmers, there is a greater chance that you will venture into deeper water to avoid the social cost of staying close to shore. You may also mirror the risky behaviours of other beachgoers. Ignoring the warning signs The time and financial investment made in travelling to the beach after being limited by stay-at-home orders for weeks and months means that more people may enter the water, even if the conditions aren’t ideal. Beach users escaping self-isolation at home may be tired of warnings and further restrictions on the beach and may ignore them, particularly if they believe that lifeguards are being <a href="https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-19-2541-2019">overly cautious</a>. This was the greatest concern expressed at a recent (virtual) conference to celebrate the creation of a legislated lifesaving program in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1626-9">Costa Rica</a>. In the Great Lakes, the problem is made worse by the high-water levels that have <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/environment/ct-lake-michigan-record-water-levels-20200619-ntztvazvynf7bgbro3cgkp2diy-story.html">limited the amount of beach available</a>. Even where lifeguard services are still provided, the limited beach width means that people will either crowd together on the beach or move away from others, increasing the lifeguard’s patrol area — and the risk that someone will need rescue or will drown. <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/famous-sydney-beaches-closed-after-crowds-flout-coronavirus-restrictions">Restricting access to beaches</a> to limit crowds and the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/15/us/covid-19-second-shutdown/index.html">potential for a second wave of COVID-19 cases</a>, will in turn limit the number of drownings as long as people <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/lake-michigan-chicago-beach-beaches-open/6265505">heed those closures</a>. COVID-19 has created a perfect storm that could make beaches more popular than ever before and raise the risk of drowning. So far, most of the concern has focused on the lack of social distancing and the looming threat of a second COVID-19 wave, but that focus may soon shift to drowning. Are we going to love our beaches to death?<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/141491/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-houser-688101">Chris Houser</a>, Professor of Earth and Environmental Science, and Dean of Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-windsor-3044">University of Windsor</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rob-brander-111027">Rob Brander</a>, Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-coronavirus-self-isolation-fatigue-may-lead-to-more-beach-drownings-this-summer-141491">original article</a>.

International Travel

Hugh Jackman reveals secret self-isolation project to help people in need

Hugh Jackman is using his time self-isolating in New York to help others in need. After becoming an ambassador of mental health organisation Gotcha4Life in 2017, the actor has been hosting a number of secret of web seminars to promote “messages of connection and conversation” through the charity. I've learned so much from being on the board and we are planning on more of those talks,” Hugh told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/bad-education-star-hugh-jackmans-secret-lockdown-project-to-help-others-in-need/news-story/76eac4b15332829128673ea36b623945" target="_blank">News Corp Australia </a>on Sunday of his passion to help people. Gotcha4Life was founded in 2017 by Hugh’s best friend, Gus Worland. “Gus has been incredible … [mental health] is something we really need to pay attention to in the world and Australia, a lot,” added Hugh. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Rri9YDA2f/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Rri9YDA2f/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">No matter where you are in the world, please listen to your officials. Please stay home and, if you do go out, practice proper social distancing. Thank you to all the first responders, doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, the truck drivers, etc ... all of you who take away from your own family to care for others. You are the real heroes.</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/thehughjackman/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Hugh Jackman</a> (@thehughjackman) on Mar 28, 2020 at 4:55am PDT </div> </blockquote> “Our need to look after each other, not just financially and physically, but mentally is a priority. There's a lot of loneliness out there and this only adds to that.” Hugh urged people to take care of their mental wellbeing as he promoted Gotcha4Life and the work they do. “I've been a board member since @Gotcha4Life was created,” began Hugh. “It's extremely important that we pay attention to our mental health. Now more than ever. Please contact your family, friends and neighbours. A call could save a life.” The Hollywood heavyweight and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness were in Melbourne with their children Oscar and Ava when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March. They initially flew there from New York on a work trip as Deborra-Lee directed several episodes of Neighbours. They then returned to America after just four days. “No one really knew what was going on… it was all a bit of a shock,” said Hugh after he was urged to return to America before the borders closed.

Caring

Is isolation a feeling?

I am feeling isolated. Is this a state, or an emotion? Rather than getting into the semantics of language, I will ask another question: what does isolation feel like? Isolation feels like being <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-08649-001">stuck on the couch</a> despite having time for a walk. Isolation feels like <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666315000768">comfort eating</a> nachos and box wine. Our bodies are tired. Our minds slip and skid between blank boredom and anxious <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/5/1729">overthinking</a>. What is happening to us, here in our homes, away from the routines and interactions that used to shape our days? I am feeling isolated. Scholars of emotion talk about feelings as <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1468-5914.00135">judgements</a> – our considered response to what’s happening. These judgements tint our experience as we live it: like the transferred epithets of Wodehouse’s Bertie Wooster, “pronging a <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=HC-OBeh2d3sC&pg=PA138&lpg=PA138&dq=wodehouse+pronging+a+moody+forkful&source=bl&ots=-jlwqbbiST&sig=ACfU3U1jjr3u00Sa3Ngax_5ioUjOj6lzeQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwimxMnkmqvpAhUF73MBHa9EAf0Q6AEwA3oECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=wodehouse%20pronging%20a%20moody%20forkful&f=false">moody forkful</a>” of eggs, or “balancing a <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=iJwnDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT226&lpg=PT226&dq=wodehouse+thoughtful+lump+of+sugar&source=bl&ots=NCQB0-OyXU&sig=ACfU3U3l6CVTHqRvcVseIz-ZWEYMv2EDDg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwinxI7QmqvpAhVVjuYKHRubDisQ6AEwA3oECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=wodehouse%20thoughtful%20lump%20of%20sugar&f=false">thoughtful lump of sugar</a>” on his teaspoon. Experience reaches us through these filters of judgement. This morning I made myself a lonely piece of toast and am writing this article drinking a grateful-for-free-childcare cup of tea. Every lonely person is lonely in their own way Some of the effects of isolation are <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2008-07715-005">common to all</a> human beings, across times and places. Humans have evolved as communal animals <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/books/the-psychological-journey-to-and-from-loneliness/rokach/978-0-12-815618-6">living in</a> “families, tribes, and communities”. We <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21219047">feel</a> “the pain of social isolation and the rewards of social connection”. Beyond these human constants, our emotional experiences are powerfully shaped by our individual circumstances. Our communal and personal histories affect our expectations of life and our responses to events. In this sense, your feeling of isolation is different to mine. Like Tolstoy’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-anna-karenina-86475">unhappy families</a>, each of us is feeling this crisis in our own way. Medical researchers of isolation note this recursive flow of emotion: symptoms like poor sleep and high blood pressure correlated not with measures of patients’ objective isolation, but their <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166409/">perceived isolation</a>. One person’s agonising loneliness is another’s boring staycation. We are as isolated as we feel. This does not mean our feelings aren’t real. They are, in fact, the only reality we can know. Is there a meaningful difference between asking “How are you?” and “How are you feeling?” Full bodied feeling Our feelings are experienced by our whole selves: bodies, minds, emotions, <a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/01/24/coronavirus-the-psychological-effects-of-quarantining-a-city/">all intertwined</a>. We feel the absence of human touch, we feel anxiety as we obsess over daily statistics, we feel exhausted by shopping trips that feel like ventures into no-man’s-land, we feel grief at the horrific headlines of death, and frustration at government responses. We feel loss and confusion about our about our <a href="https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057%2F9780230305625">identity and value</a> as <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-11/coronavirus-sudden-unemployment-and-impact-on-identity/12206868">jobs disappear</a>. Those who contract COVID-19 report <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-medicine-and-public-health-preparedness/article/is-there-a-case-for-quarantine-perspectives-from-sars-to-ebola/451C41BD5A980A45FFA9F9AE8670CC85">not only</a> fear of dying, but boredom and anger at being isolated from family and friends. We are feeling isolated. Despite our Tolstoyan uniqueness, we find comfort in shared feelings. We share memes about interminable Zoom meetings, or homeschooling, or day drinking. We feel seen, heard, understood – less isolated. These are called <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0003-066X.55.2.205">affiliative behaviours</a> and they are a powerful coping strategy for all kinds of crises. Somehow our suffering is more bearable if another human being knows how we feel, and feels it too. Connecting with one another, and feeling that we are in this together, can mitigate some of the pain of isolation. Sufferers during previous pandemics who felt their isolation was serving an altruistic goal of protecting their neighbours <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19497162">reported less negative emotions</a> about isolation. Political exiles have, throughout history, found ways to endure isolation. Early modern English nuns in exiled European convents <a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/685784">drew upon antique history</a> to comfort themselves, identifying with Biblical stories of suffering that finally resolve in homecoming and restored community. Prisoners in solitary confinement have <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Health_and_Human_Rights_in_a_Changing_Wo.html?id=kJXM_eptt0MC&redir_esc=y">relied</a> on simple things like sunlight and human voices on the radio to keep the worst at bay. They are feeling isolated. Isolation feels like being alone but it also feels like reaching beyond our usual spheres, feeling new empathy with people who were strangers before. Isolation is a long-term state for many. From <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550857910001002">professional women</a> in male-dominated fields, to caregivers and those in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/153331759601100305">remote communities</a>, to religious and queer <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10894160.2010.490503">minorities</a>. <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1755458617300397">Asylum seekers</a> in detention <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1323238X.2017.1314805">report</a> deep feelings of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ejsp.2543">isolation</a> and invisibility. Their <a href="http://www.freedomfromtorture.org/real-voices/six-refugee-poems-a-unique-insight-into-the-life-of-refugees-and-asylum-seekers">poems</a> open up for us in new ways now. New parents, especially mothers, experience isolation with feelings <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15066113">familiar</a> to many of us right now: “powerlessness, insufficiency, guilt, loss, exhaustion, ambivalence, resentment and anger”. Those who are young, or poor, or single, are <a href="http://asistdl.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/asi.24037">especially</a> at risk of feeling isolated, overwhelmed and worried. In our empathy we are connected across social and economic gaps. Emotional force We are feeling isolated. Now, our shared emotions become a central part of how we <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-6486.2010.00908.x">make sense</a> of the crisis. Shared, collective emotion can be a strong driver of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118900772.etrds0155">collective activity</a>. Enough shared emotion can cause us to feel like a <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-theory/article/feeling-like-a-state-social-emotion-and-identity/C14A88754EF067C70A32B8BEEBBC44B4">unified nation</a>, our common humanity stronger than our superficial differences. Conversely, emotional sparks can create <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/10/ten-arrested-and-police-officer-injured-at-protest-against-victorias-covid-19-lockdown-laws">political cliques</a> who cohere around shared anger towards other groups. Scholars of emotion describe emotions as a <a href="https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/emotions-and-social-relations/book237448">force</a>, not only felt within, but acting upon the external world. Emotions do things. Big, collective emotions do big things. We are only beginning to discover what isolation is doing to us.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/138009/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carly-osborn-770314">Carly Osborn</a>, Visiting Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-isolation-a-feeling-138009">original article</a>.

Mind

Lockdown singing: The science of why music helps us connect in isolation

“Don’t hold back, sing with all of your heart,” said our colleague Simon Baron-Cohen on a Zoom meeting the other night with his fellow band members. Simon is director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University by day and bass player of the blues and funk group Deep Blue by night. His band and many others are taking to the Zoom airways to play music together. One of the most encouraging phenomena we have begun to see in response to social distancing laws are the innovative ways that people are starting to bond with each other, particularly musically. At the start of the lockdown in Italy, videos went viral on social media of neighbours singing with each other <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q734VN0N7hw">across their balconies</a>. This trend also happened in Israel, Spain, Iraq, the US, France, Lebanon, India, Germany <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2020/03/music-and-encouragement-from-balconies-around-world/608668/">and other countries</a>. And it wasn’t just balconies. People went to their rooftops, windows, and even online. This need to bond – through music especially – relates to the fundamental features of being human. In some ways, amid the horrors of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are experiencing a global social psychological experiment that is giving us insight into what lies at the core of our humanity. Social brains We are innately social creatures. In fact, some scholars have argued that, on a biological level, the social brain in humans is more developed <a href="http://www.prazsak.hu/kurzusok/kolozsvar/Dunbar_1998.pdf">than that of any other species on earth</a>. As such, we humans have a biological need to form bonds and cooperate with one another. This is evident in the physiological and psychological stress we experience when we are isolated, which increases our drive to connect with others – something we are witnessing in societies around the world. Simply put, the social brain needs to be fed and, if forced into isolation, will adapt to find ways to connect. What is interesting is that simply messaging each other or making phone calls doesn’t seem to do the trick. Even face-to-face video conferencing hasn’t been enough for many. We need to connect in a way that the social brain will resonate with on an emotional level. This is where music comes in. We are all familiar with the phrase “music is food for the soul”, but it is also true that “music is food for the brain”. Research shows that when we sing together, our social brains <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115110">are activated to produce oxytocin</a>. This is a brain hormone closely linked to the way humans socialise with each other. It is released when we form social bonds, when we are synchronised with each other during face-to-face interactions, and when we are intimate with others, which is why some refer to it as the “cuddle” or “love” hormone. Recent research on music has shown that oxytocin increases when we sing in all sorts of ways. Work by <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00518/full">neuroscientist Jason Keeler and colleagues in 2015</a> showed that choral singing increased oxytocin. Another study in 2017 by T Moritz Schladt and colleagues showed that oxytocin increased during <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319703525_Choir_versus_Solo_Singing_Effects_on_Mood_and_Salivary_Oxytocin_and_Cortisol_Concentrations">improvisational singing with others</a>. But it isn’t just singing that increases oxytocin. A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5718605/">2017 study by Yuuki Oishi and colleagues</a> showed that oxytocin increases after just listening to music. And not only that, it increases when listening to both slow and fast musical tempos. What makes us human All of this points to why, on a biological level, music is part of what makes us human. Everyone is different and there is music to meet everyone’s tastes, which is why we run a project called <a href="https://musicaluniverse.io/">Musical Universe</a> in which people can take tests and find out how their unique musical preferences links to their <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-your-musical-taste-says-about-your-personality-50492">brain type and personality</a>. But whatever your specific tastes, music plays an important role in connecting with others in lockdown. That’s why group singing sessions have sprouted across courtyards and via video conferencing platforms during the pandemic. And why we see Elton John, Alicia Keys, Chris Martin of Coldplay and many others live streaming concerts from their homes for the world to partake in. Music dates back at least 40,000 years in human history. Evolutionary theories about the origins of music are many, but <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257233064_The_evolution_of_music_Theories_definitions_and_the_nature_of_the_evidence">most emphasise its social role</a>. This includes strengthening group cohesion in hunter-gatherer times and as a way of signalling shared values and strength within and between tribal groups. Even Charles Darwin contemplated the origins of music, and argued that it may have played a part in sexual selection. He suggested that courtship songs might have signalled attractive and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22537940">evolutionary adaptive traits to potential partners</a>. Today, while we face a global crisis, music shows no signs of slowing down, even in forced isolation. Music lies at the very essence of our humanity because it enables the level of social bonding that distinguishes us from other species. From lullabies sung from a parent to their infant, to mass jam sessions online, we can all turn to song to maintain our sanity, our hope, and our empathy toward one another.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/137312/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-m-greenberg-204317">David M. Greenberg</a>, Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholar at Bar-Ilan University and Honorary Research Associate at the Autism Research Centre, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-cambridge-1283">University of Cambridge</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ilanit-gordon-1050493">Ilanit Gordon</a>, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Director of the Social Neuroscience Lab at the Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/bar-ilan-university-2112">Bar-Ilan University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/lockdown-singing-the-science-of-why-music-helps-us-connect-in-isolation-137312">original article</a>.

Mind

3 ways nature in the city can do you good – even in self-isolation

Spending time at the beach or taking a <a href="https://theconversation.com/reducing-stress-at-work-is-a-walk-in-the-park-57634">walk in the park</a> can help us recover from the mental and physical impacts of life’s stresses. But physical distancing measures to contain COVID-19 have included closing <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/21/bondi-beach-closed-down-after-crowds-defy-ban-on-gatherings-of-more-than-500-people">beaches</a>, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-australia-why-playgrounds-outdoor-gyms-had-to-close/news-story/a89cfc97d6352263c994b0d2e0b797bb">playgrounds</a> and <a href="https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/city-file/article/royal-botanic-gardens-close-due-coronavirus">parks</a>, adding to the challenges to our mental health. When we stay home to <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-much-has-australia-really-flattened-the-curve-of-coronavirus-until-we-keep-better-records-we-dont-know-136252">flatten the curve</a>, how can we help ourselves by taking advantage of the benefits associated with nature? The <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11252-014-0427-3">evidence for nature supporting human well-being</a> has grown in recent decades. We researched the links between nature and urban residents’ well-being and found there are benefits of nature that we can still enjoy now, even in lockdown. Our findings point to some of the ways we can improve our well-being by engaging with everyday nature close to home. 1. A room with a view We <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-014-0427-3">reviewed the evidence</a>, collected <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-017-0702-1">survey data</a> on self-reported well-being and biodiversity indicators, and organised <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-019-00910-5">focus groups</a> in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, and Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand, to better understand participants’ relationship with urban nature. If you’re stuck at home, the good news is there is plenty of research that suggests <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/00139160121973115">a view through a window</a> of vegetation or a body of water can provide a micro-break. A view of nature through a window has even <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.6143402">aided hospital patients’ recovery</a> from surgery. A short, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.04.003">40-second glance at a green roof</a> supports cognitive restoration better than a view of concrete. Our research found urban residents had greater self-reported well-being when they had nature nearby or visible from their homes. Participants valued a view of vegetated areas – green space – and bodies of water – blue space. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-019-00910-5">One participant said</a>: I could live in something that was pretty grim if it had a balcony that looked out [at nature]. Participants in our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-019-00910-5">focus groups</a> also highlighted the importance of seeing changes in the natural world, such as change in the weather or the seasons. Even if your view does not have a lot of vegetation or water, a view of the sky can allow engagement with nature’s dynamism. A view out a window at nature’s dynamism can improve our well-being. Lucy Taylor, Author provided 2. Gardening – indoors and out If you’re lucky enough to have a yard or balcony, now may be a good time to do some gardening. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.11.007">Gardening can offer benefits</a> such as reductions in stress, anxiety and depression. As a physical activity, gardening can also improve physical fitness and support weight loss. Gardens can also provide <a href="https://theconversation.com/bandbs-for-birds-and-bees-transform-your-garden-or-balcony-into-a-wildlife-haven-129907">habitat for wildlife</a>, potentially introducing you to new plants, pollinating insects and birds. <a href="https://theconversation.com/biodiversity-and-our-brains-how-ecology-and-mental-health-go-together-in-our-cities-126760">Urban biodiversity benefits us</a> too. Our study found strong links between gardening and self-reported well-being. If you don’t have a yard, gardening on a balcony or tending to indoor plants also has benefits. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-017-0702-1">One participant explained</a>: Having a small vegetable garden and flowers in pots makes me feel happy and content … It is wonderful to see things grow in the city. Gardening in a yard, on a balcony, or even tending indoor plants does us good. Peter Lead, Author provided 3. Green exercise We know exercise is good for physical fitness and <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-your-mental-health-deteriorating-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-heres-what-to-look-out-for-134827">mental health</a>. “Green exercise”, or exercise that takes place in and around nature, can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/es903183r">improve your mood and self-esteem</a>. Our study found strong links between how often urban residents exercised and their self-reported well-being. One participant described how important green exercise is to them: Being able to walk my dog down at the beach or go up into the hills is a great stress relief and keeps me fit and healthy and, best of all, it’s free. Another participant described <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-019-00910-5">exercising in a public park</a>: I feel significantly calmer, [my] breathing rate goes down. I love the feel of that moist air going into my lungs from all the trees and I really do feel different. To limit infection, residents of cities around the world are subject to a range of national and local constraints on when and how they leave the house to exercise. It is important to follow physical distancing guidelines, but it is also <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-04/coronavirus-queensland-exercise-safety/12115924">important to exercise</a> rather than be both isolated and sedentary. Urban nature now and for the future Nature can support our well-being now, when we all could use the help, but we need to protect it. <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1060902">Climate change talks have been postponed</a> because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is clear climate change has not stalled, even taking into account <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-changes-brought-on-by-coronavirus-could-help-tackle-climate-change-133509">the effect of lockdown on emissions</a>. There are lasting ways to <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-must-fight-climate-change-like-its-world-war-iii-here-are-4-potent-weapons-to-deploy-131052">reduce our emissions</a> and create <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-have-the-blueprint-for-liveable-low-carbon-cities-we-just-need-to-use-it-121615">low-carbon</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/after-another-hot-summer-here-are-6-ways-to-cool-our-cities-in-future-110817">cooler cities</a>. And the <a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-what-the-coronavirus-pandemic-can-teach-us-about-tackling-climate-change-134399">earlier we act, the better the outcomes</a> will be. If you have a yard, <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-solution-to-cut-extreme-heat-by-up-to-6-degrees-is-in-our-own-backyards-133082">planting trees</a> might be a good lockdown activity now and will ultimately <a href="https://theconversation.com/here-are-5-practical-ways-trees-can-help-us-survive-climate-change-129753">benefit your future</a>. Taking time to notice nature – via a glance outside, <a href="https://theconversation.com/running-out-of-things-to-do-in-isolation-get-back-in-the-garden-with-these-ideas-from-4-experts-134229">tending plants in pots or gardens</a>, or via green exercise – will improve your well-being. Appreciating nature and having access to it has never been so important. Written by Lucy Taylor, Dieter Hochuli and Erin Leckey. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/3-ways-nature-in-the-city-can-do-you-good-even-in-self-isolation-133150">The Conversation.</a>

Cruising

5 classic isolation movies recommended by a film scholar

As a film scholar, I am constantly being asked if I am enjoying the lockdown because it has given me more time to watch films. My answer is not simple. Yes, it is good to catch up on some films I missed at the cinema, or finally get around to rewatching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9nZFUgyclE">Berlin Alexanderplatz</a>. But, for someone like me, who finds social isolation very difficult, watching movies alone can be a painful reminder of what a communal activity cinema-going usually is, as this <a href="https://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/files/iser_working_papers/2005-14.pdf">research from Essex University</a> has found. So I have started to watch films that reassure me that I am not the only one feeling lonely and going stir crazy. Here, then, are five great films about being stuck indoors or in forced isolation. Some of these may not be for the faint-hearted, but they are all well worth watching. Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) <a href="https://variety.com/1954/film/reviews/rear-window-1200417736/">Rear Window</a> may be the definitive lockdown movie. The story is simple: Jimmy Stewart’s adventure-seeking photographer finds himself trapped in his apartment with a broken leg. He begins to semi-innocently spy on his neighbours until he becomes convinced that one of them may have murdered their wife. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6kCcZCMYw38?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The film is both a mischievous examination of the voyeur in us all, and a cautionary tale about the devil making work for idle hands. It is also a testament to the power of imagination. We might not be able to have meals, complete with champagne, delivered to us by Grace Kelly, but we can make up stories about what that strange man across the street is up to. It will help pass the time. And you know he’s doing the same about you. The Exterminating Angel (Luis Buñuel, 1962) Buñuel’s <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-exterminating-angel-1968">surrealist masterpiece</a> remains cinema’s definitive portrait of societal breakdown, and 90% of it takes place in one room. Following a lavish dinner party at one of their houses, a large group of aristocrats find themselves inexplicably unable to leave the drawing room. The longer they remain there together the more the thin veneer of civilisation cracks. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ERHL5nzEMmM?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> First the servants leave and the guests are reduced to using antique vases as toilets. Soon the food and water run out and precious medication is stolen. The elderly and frail start to die. Some respond by indulging their hedonistic desires, some resort to prayer and calls for sacrifice, others kill themselves in despair. This might sound unbearably bleak, but Buñuel plays it all for the most mordant kind of comedy. Six decades have not blunted the fangs on this one. This is Not a Film (Jafar Panahi, 2011) In late 2010, Jafar Panahi, one of Iran’s greatest filmmakers, was sentenced by his government to six years in prison and a 20-year ban on making films for allegedly conspiring to produce “propaganda against the Islamic Republic”. Awaiting the final verdict under house arrest, Panahi did what any good dissident would do: he made a film. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AgZy00svH08?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Shot on an iPhone and a digital camcorder, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/movies/hes-jafar-panahi-but-this-is-not-a-film.html">This is Not a Film</a> shows Panahi going about his daily routine, speaking to his lawyers, acting out scenes from a film he expects to never make, talking about his previous work, and interacting with a few neighbours and workmen. The result is a powerful riposte to state censorship and a sly work of meta-cinema typical of its maker. But the film also has an incredible urgency about it. It is as if Panahi had to make the film simply to stay sane. A timely reminder that you don’t need expensive equipment or money to make great art, and that sometimes the best work comes out of crisis and restraint. Housebound (Gerard Johnstone, 2014) It is easy to see why Peter Jackson went <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/new-line-remake-new-zealand-772536">out of his way to champion</a> this low-budget effort by first-time writer-director Gerard Johnstone (the famed New Zealand director called it “bloody brilliant”). Like Jackson’s own early films, Housebound shoots for a difficult balance of irreverent comedy, suspense, and splatter, and somehow pulls it off. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ji8Tsuj3u0c?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The story revolves around a 20-something tearaway named Kylie who placed under house arrest in her childhood home, which her mother casually insists is haunted. At first Kylie thinks her mother is just dotty, but when she is also confronted by mysteriously opening doors, disappearing objects and noises in the night, she begins to wonder. Essential viewing for people with old, noisy houses. Extra points for the probation officer who reveals himself to be an amateur ghost hunter, and the very plucky female protagonist whose response to encountering a creepy doll is to smash its face in. Crowhurst (Simon Rumley, 2017) Independent British filmmaker <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/film-review-crowhurst-b9lrx9rbp">Simon Rumley’s retelling</a> of Donald Crowhurst’s <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/drama-on-the-waves-the-life-and-death-of-donald-crowhurst-421934.html">disastrous attempt</a> to sail solo and non-stop around the world in 1968, which ended in his disappearance and probable suicide, offers a masterclass in low-budget filmmaking. A good deal of the movie consists of Crowhurst (played by the excellent Justin Salinger) alone on a very small trimaran. Rumley, however, puts the viewer squarely inside Crowhurst’s head as his loneliness, isolation and fear of failure slowly cause him to crack. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qgWC8bJTld4?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> This is not a movie for everyone. It is intense to say the least, and the more unhinged Crowhurst gets, the more self-consciously raw the filmmaking becomes. The fact that it was championed by Nicolas Roeg, the late, great maestro of mind-bending British cinema, will be the ultimate recommendation for those looking for something more adventurous. This list is hardly exhaustive. There are many more films about isolation to watch while in isolation: from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/29/persona-review-ingmar-bergman-rerelease">Persona</a> to <a href="https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2020/04/11/1995-film-safe-has-new-meaning-during-our-coronavirus-isolation">Safe</a>, from <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-10-03-9710030449-story.html">Repulsion</a> to <a href="https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/right-at-your-door-1200519062/">Right at Your Door</a>. I just wanted to guide people to a few lesser-known films alongside a pair of classics that worth revisiting now more than ever. Stay safe and happy viewing.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/135705/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brian-hoyle-475856">Brian Hoyle</a>, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/five-classic-isolation-movies-recommended-by-a-film-scholar-135705">original article</a>.

Movies

Perfect isolation recipe: Jamie Oliver’s two-ingredient pasta

In these strange and unpredictable times, the one thing you can always rely on is a good Jamie Oliver recipe. The beloved British chef knows how to make delicious, wholesome food, that’s usually achievable at home. His new series, Keep Cooking And Carry On, is serving up his best recipes with a self-isolation twist. “Let’s celebrate freezer faves, big up the store cupboard and get creative with whatever we have on hand,” he says. Not only should you tune in to his show for the great recipes using isolation pantry items, but you also have something to do during your time at home. Here’s a recipe for you to try that only includes two ingredients – one of which is water. “My easy homemade pasta recipe is great for emergencies. You don’t need a pasta machine, just a rolling pin.” Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 large handfuls of plain flour, plus extra for dusting</li> </ul> This recipe is so simple, it doesn't even require proper measurements. Method: <ul> <li>Put the flour in a bowl, then gradually mix in just enough water to bring it together into a ball of dough (if it's sticky, add a little extra flour).</li> <li>Knead for just a couple of minutes, or until smooth and shiny.</li> <li>On a flour-dusted surface, use a rolling pin to roll out the pasta to about 2mm thick.</li> <li>Dust it well with flour, then loosely roll it up. Use a sharp knife to slice it ½cm thick, then toss it with your hands to separate the strands.</li> <li>Cook in boiling salted water for 2 minutes, then drain and toss with your chosen sauce.</li> </ul>

Food & Wine

The personalities that thrive in isolation

The coronavirus pandemic has caused tens of thousands of deaths around the world and pushed major economies into a tailspin. Beyond those impacts, almost all of us will face psychological challenges – trying to maintain a responsible social distancing regimen without sliding into psychological <a href="https://theconversation.com/social-distancing-can-make-you-lonely-heres-how-to-stay-connected-when-youre-in-lockdown-133693">isolation and loneliness</a>. At least we’re all in the same boat, and misery loves company, right? Actually, we’re not all in the same boat. Generalisations about how the COVID-19 lockdown will affect us overlook the fact people have different personalities. We’re all going to respond in different ways to our changing situation. Extraverts and introverts Take Bob, for example. After two days working from home Bob couldn’t wait to try a social drinking session over Zoom. But drinking a beer in front of his laptop just wasn’t the same. He’s wondering how he’ll cope in the coming weeks and months, cooped up inside and away from his friends. He wonders this on a call to his sister, Jan: “I might not get coronavirus but I’m going to get <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-self-isolation-a-psychologist-explains-how-to-avoid-cabin-fever-133317">cabin fever</a>!” Jan doesn’t understand Bob’s agitation or why he’s so worried about staying at home. If Jan is feeling bad about anything, it is the guilt of realising she might actually be enjoying the apocalypse – quiet evenings to herself, far from the madding crowd. Bliss! Jan and Bob are archetypes of people we all know well. Bob represents the classic extravert. He’s talkative, gregarious and highly social. Jan is an introvert. She enjoys solitude and finds rowdy Bob a bit too much. Different people, different responses Differences in extraversion-introversion <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-63285-007">emerge in early life and are relatively stable over the lifespan</a>. They influence which environments we seek out and how we respond to those environments. In a <a href="https://theconversation.com/happiness-hinges-on-personality-so-initiatives-to-improve-well-being-need-to-be-tailor-made-102341">recent study</a>, extraverts and introverts were asked to spend a week engaging in higher levels of extravert-typical behaviour (being talkative, sociable, etc). Extraverts reaped several benefits including enhanced mood and feelings of authenticity. Conversely, introverts experienced no benefits, and reported feeling tired and irritable. The social distancing rules to which we’re all trying to adhere are like a mirror image of this intervention. Now it’s the extraverts who are acting out of character, and who will likely experience decreased well-being in the coming weeks and months. Introverts, on the other hand, have been training for this moment their whole lives. Why might introverts find isolation easier to deal with than extraverts? Most obviously, they tend to be <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239522412_Person_and_Thing_Orientations_Psychological_Correlates_and_Predictive_Utility">less motivated to seek out social engagment</a>. Introverts also tend to feel <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236156661_What_you_wish_is_what_you_get_The_meaning_of_individual_variability_in_desired_affect_and_affective_discrepancy">less need to experience pleasure and excitement</a>. This may make them less prone to the boredom that will afflict many of us as social distancing drags on. Looking deeper Other aspects of our personalities may also shape our coping during isolation. Consider the remaining four traits in the <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/big-5-personality-traits">Big Five personality model</a>: People high in conscientiousness, who are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4492903/">more organised, less distractable and also more adaptable</a>, will find it easier to set up and stick to a structured daily schedule, as many experts recommend. People high in agreeableness, who tend to be <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-science-of-being-nice-how-politeness-is-different-from-compassion-81819">polite, compassionate and cooperative</a>, will be better equipped to negotiate life in the pockets of family members or housemates. People high in openness to experience, who tend to be <a href="https://theconversation.com/people-with-creative-personalities-really-do-see-the-world-differently-77083">curious and imaginative</a>, will likely become absorbed in books, music and creative solutions to the humdrum of lockdown. In contrast, people high in neuroticism, who are more <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792076/">susceptible to stress and negative emotions</a> than their more stable peers, will be most at risk for anxiety and depression during these challenging times. Of course, these are all generalisations. Introverts are not immune to loneliness, and those with more vulnerable personalities can thrive with the right resources and social support. Life in a capsule For some, living under lockdown might feel like working on a space station or Antarctic research facility. What lessons can we draw from personality research in these extreme environments? <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev.psych.51.1.227">That research shows</a> people who are emotionally stable, self-reliant and autonomous, goal-oriented, friendly, patient and open tend to cope better in conditions of extreme isolation. In particular, it has been observed that “‘sociable [read agreeable] introverts’ – who enjoy, but do not need, social interaction – seem optimally suited for capsule living”. To manage as best we can in our earthbound and non-polar “capsules”, we might aspire to some of the qualities noted above: to be calm and organised, determined but patient, self-reliant but connected. Loneliness versus time alone The coronavirus pandemic has arrived on the heels of what some describe as a “loneliness epidemic”, but these headlines <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/loneliness-epidemic">may be overblown</a>. Again, part of what is missing in such descriptions is the fact that clouds for some are silver linings for others. A counterpoint to the so-called loneliness epidemic is the study of “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886919303101">aloneliness</a>”, the negative emotions many experience as a result of insufficient time spent alone. As Anthony Storr wrote in <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2005-11953-000">Solitude: A return to the self</a>, “solitude can be as therapeutic as emotional support”, and the capacity to be alone is as much a form of emotional maturity as the capacity to form close attachments. Of course, some people in lockdown are facing formidable challenges that have nothing to do with their personality. Many have lost their jobs and face economic hardship. Some are completely isolated whereas others share their homes with loved ones. Even so, our response to these challenges reflects not only our predicament, but also ourselves.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/135307/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/luke-smillie-7502">Luke Smillie</a>, Associate Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-melbourne-722">University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-haslam-10182">Nick Haslam</a>, Professor of Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-melbourne-722">University of Melbourne</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/personalities-that-thrive-in-isolation-and-what-we-can-all-learn-from-time-alone-135307">original article</a>.

Mind

Fans surprised as Demi Moore and Bruce Willis self-isolate together

Fans are thrilled that Demi Moore is self-quarantining with her ex-husband Bruce Willis and their daughters in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The duo seems to have reunited to keep the family together. Youngest daughter Tallulah Willis, 26, posted a photo of Bruce, 65, and Demi, 57, posing together while wearing matching green striped pyjamas while smiling into the camera. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-py28VDrvV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-py28VDrvV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">chaotic neutral</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/buuski/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> tallulah</a> (@buuski) on Apr 6, 2020 at 1:35pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Their daughter, Scout, 28, is posed in the background along with film director Dillon Buss, who is holding a small dog. The other family dog is asleep on the couch and is also wearing the same pyjamas. “Chaotic neutral,” Tallulah captioned the image. One fan commented that the family aren’t exactly social distancing, but Tallulah pointed out that the family have been together for a prolonged amount of time. “We made the choice to quarantine together and have been together for 27 days taking every precaution. Please stay inside and wash your hands!” she wrote. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-r5aRlngVw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-r5aRlngVw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Family bonding 💚</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/demimoore/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Demi Moore</a> (@demimoore) on Apr 7, 2020 at 9:11am PDT </div> </blockquote> Demi posted the sweet snap, saying that they were enjoying some “family bonding”. Bruce and Demi have remained friendly with each other since they divorced in 2000 after being married for 13 years. She spoke candidly about their marriage in her recent memoir Inside Out. “I think Bruce was fearful at the beginning that I was going to make our split difficult, and that I would express my anger and whatever baggage that I had from our marriage by obstructing his access to the kids — that I’d turn to all of those ploys divorcing couples use as weapons,” she wrote in the book. “But I didn’t, and neither did he.” Bruce has since remarried to Emma Heming Willis, with whom he shares two daughters, Mabel Ray, 8 and Evelyn Penn, 5. It is not known whether they are all isolating with the Moore family.

Family & Pets

Queen gives sweet update during coronavirus isolation

Queen Elizabeth has given royal fans a little bit hope this week after giving a joyful update while she takes a break from her official engagements and duties. Her Majesty was forced to go into self-isolation and cancel several official events in light of the deadly COVID-19 that is currently plaguing the country. The royal has reportedly locked herself away with her husband, Prince Philip, and a small number of skeleton staff at Windsor Castle. Not even family members can visit the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh due to the deadly events, in a bid to protect their weakened immune systems. In a new post shared to social media, a number of photos of the Queen’s carriage horses running free were posted with the caption: “The Queen’s carriage horses are turned out at Hampton Court Palace, where they will remain whilst they are not required for official duties.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The Queen’s carriage horses are turned out at Hampton Court Palace, where they will remain whilst they are not required for official duties. There are two types of carriage horse - Cleveland Bays & Windsor Greys. All the horses are named by The Queen. 📷Rui, Tyrone, & St. Ives <a href="https://t.co/7h7xoJQE7k">pic.twitter.com/7h7xoJQE7k</a> — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1243832737292783617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2020</a></blockquote> However, the beautiful mares are currently residing in Hampton Court Palace in Richmond not near Her Majesty. That is not the only update on the royal accounts we have been given, as just a few weeks ago Buckingham Palace released an official statement where they confirmed the Queen’s temporary change of address. “As a sensible precaution and for practical reasons in the current circumstances, a number of changes are being made to The Queen’s diary”, the statement read. “Her Majesty will move to Windsor Castle for the Easter period on Thursday 19th March, one week earlier than planned. It is likely The Queen will stay there beyond the Easter period. “In consultation with the Medical Household and Government, a number of public events with large numbers of people due to have been attended by The Queen, and other Members of the Royal Family, in the coming months will be cancelled or postponed. “The annual Maundy Service at St George’s Chapel on 9th April will not go ahead. Three Garden Parties hosted by The Queen, due to be held at Buckingham Palace in May, will now not take place.”

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