How Long Can You Be Alone?

Social distancing. If you’ve been around for spring 2020, you know what it feels like. The only place left to go is the grocery. The only social interaction you get is yelling into the void online. It doesn’t feel good. And it kind of begs the question: how long can you be alone?
Twitter: / nerdyandquirky
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SOURCES
Harlow, H. F., Dodsworth, R. O., & Harlow, M. K. (1965). Total social isolation in monkeys. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 54(1), 90-97. doi: 10.1073/pnas.54.1.90
Institute of Medicine (US) Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Berg RL, Cassells JS, editors. The Second Fifty Years: Promoting Health and Preventing Disability. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1992. 14, Social Isolation Among Older Individuals: The Relationship to Mortality and Morbidity. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Morgan, T. J. H., Uomini, N. T., Rendell, L. E., Chouinard-Thuly, L., Street, S. E., Lewis, H. M., … Laland, K. N. (2015). Experimental evidence for the co-evolution of hominin tool-making teaching and language. Nature Communications, 6(1). doi: 10.1038/ncomms7029
Siegel, J. D., Rhinehart, E., Jackson, M., & Chiarello, L. (2007). 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Health Care Settings. American Journal of Infection Control, 35(10). doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2007.10.007
Slater, L. (2005). Opening Skinners box: great psychological experiments of the twentieth century. London: Bloomsbury.
Smith, P. (2006). The Effects of Solitary Confinement on Prison Inmates: A Brief History and Review of the Literature. Crime and Justice, 34(1), 441-528. doi:10.1086/500626
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Hello and welcome to the joke under the fold! Here's one that might lift your mood in these weird times...The pilot was a loner but even for him flying a drone was just too remote.Comment LONER to let me know you were here ;-)

[@jyoats7959]

Having a pet can’t replace human interaction but I’ve noticed having a pet really does help you feel less lonely.

[@UltraBadass]

Having a dog must be fun my cat just blinks at me and demands food.

[@peacechickification]

Man I live alone without pets and I’m thankful I even have a plant as a friend, or at the very least something else alive in here with me.

[@UltraBadass]

@@peacechickification have you thought about keeping insects as pets ? they might not replace human interaction, but grasshoppers are easy enough to find and keep even temporarily ^^ and they make good roommates

[@bre5067]

I'm homeschooled and I've adapted to my cats behavior.

[@peacechickification]

Bastian Förstl that’s an interesting thought, but I don’t think I could feel okay caging a lil bug till they die for my comfort, especially since I don’t know their needs. Also, I don’t want to doom another being to isolation from the world they know just to make myself slightly more comfortable. I’ll just keep talkin to and lovin on my plant friends!

[@coral_pine]

And then there is me, who feels like my pre-quarantine and during-quarantine lives are almost identical. Decade of depression prepared me for this better than expected.

[@CIDILIABRA]

Right? I'm not depressed, I just have severely bad BPD, which has left me kinda alone for a long time. I'm staying with family, so there's that. At school I never had much friends, and didn't do clubs. So I'm just chillin

[@Thetabc24]

Same with long term illness. The isolation maybe bothered me more a decade ago, but not as much now. I'm not liking the feelings but I'm used to them. It's been having my partner who is not used to it that's been the problem. As he loses himself, and I watch those effects of depression and hyper sensitivity in someone else that then is used on me. Also the behavior points you showed of obliteration of self and personality are something people have mentioned to me the last few years about me and now they make sense. 👏👏 Bravo! Your video is information i crave.

[@stuffz4040]

Tfw quarantine has made you more social

[@ffwast]

Looking at the people going stir crazy only a few weeks into quarantine like "first time?"

[@leftysheppey]

I feel this. Head up pal, one day you might feel better :)

[@late-start-vlogs]

"sadness and a need to pee" sums up Sims4 perfectly!

[@pvic6959]

sums up me pretty well too jk this is mostly a joke lol

[@foxeye2264]

@@PyPylia *mostly mostly*

[@chillsahoy2640]

Alternative title: How to buy The Sims and claim it as a work expense, so you don't pay tax on it. Also, solitary confinement is a form of torture.

[@Thetabc24]

I thought the same thing about both points.

[@malakidrissi4265]

Well not for me , I have my animes and my food but I have 2 best friends

[@thatoneguy9582]

@@malakidrissi4265 guy

[@thegoodwitchluzura]

Not if you’re am introvert.

[@codertommy6883]

@@thegoodwitchluzura someone didn't watch the video

[@ellakang5122]

As an introvert with a lot of social anxiety, I distinctly remember wishing several months ago that I would get an excuse to just drop everything for a little bit and isolate myself, and boyyyyy am I ruing that right now. While I don’t really believe in the need to find a silver lining in something as bleak as the current state of the world right now, I have to admit that it’s been an opportunity to reshape my perspective on mental health and social connection.

[@UltraBadass]

Same thing back then I wished to be myself for a while especially as finals where getting closer. Now that I have it, I increasingly realize how little social contact I had even before social distancing and how much I was relying on external resources for my social life. Now that the gyms, school and all other fun places are closed I'm the Sim that relies on shouting into the void of the internet.

[@lumex1713]

Hahaha I was talking about how I wish masks were socially acceptable to were in the open and that you wouldn't be looked at weird ( I am excluding the Asian countries) And oh boi I did not expect a worldwide pandemic

[@Maryam-mz7jo]

im feeling this right now

[@Wookiee925]

I've found it's given me breathing room for a too hectic life, but now I've grown to like it and dread normal returning.

[@jungkooks_microwavephobia]

Do you live alone? just wondering bc I feel like there is a huge difference between people living alone or with their family or partners which isn’t wven talked about in the video.

[@Greytuneify]

can I just give a shout out to the graphic design moment starting at 0:55. The mouse arrow transforming into the spear, top notch, very smooth, awesome imagery

[@HakingMC]

She animated by herself :D

[@RegularVeteran]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@אבישגגירד]

Yes! I searched for comment about this

[@gamerwolf3392]

That was so clean

[@supershurinova]

Ikr!! And its not just here, all her videos are such high quality and you can tell how much effort she put into it

[@theCodyReeder]

Haha I’m in danger.

[@goldflannel2968]

We're pass danger

[@casey653]

help

[@gradyking4739]

Hi cody! Didnt expect you here!

[@KyoKyoM99]

She said spring 2020 and here I am in spring 2021. RIP social proficiency

[@Praecantetia]

Haha

[@piguyalamode164]

This is spring 2021 talking: oh you sweet summer child, thinking lockdown would only be relevant for spring 2020

[@noneri]

mid summer 2021 : oh how wrong they were 😭

[@shivanichoubey22]

its so naive, its almost cute

[@Lord_Phoenix95]

Start of 2021 Spring!!! Australia

[@arxsaur]

2021 autumn here and oh boy its relevant!

[@lazilylapis676]

:( I don't like that it's still relevant

[@MedlifeCrisis]

I don't know how sophisticated Sims is as a program, and isolation is kind of passing me by as I get to go to work but this still packed a punch. I can see why your computer exploded too, amazing amazing work. LONER :)

[@hawkin939]

Those graphics, that editing, SABRINA!!!! Amazing, thorough, and thoughtful. Thank you

[@nadinerch573]

hawkin939 my thoughts exactly 🙌🙌🙌

[@averagecommunist3456]

That's probably why it took months to make

[@krzlcve]

I completely agree!!!

[@gominuke]

man, those animations are bomb

[@lambandham]

Ikr!

[@1ntradel]

legit tho

[@friedrice4015]

Honestly this whole Sims project gives me strong "college student in a stats class vibes" and I relate to that specific sadness and desperation

[@iso2968]

Yes, I am an introvert. No, I didn't think social distancing and isolation would impact me so much. Quite the opposite. It's not that I don't like being at home, but it's the idea that I've lost the freedom to do anything but. I can't go to school, or a park, even a store that doesn't just allow five people inside at a time. I have nothing to do except speak into the internet void or hope my siblings are bored enough to bug me to do something with them. Even when we do return "back to normal" our normal will be different from before.

[@mynty_me]

I’m feeling this now, I want it to be spring now so I can go 🏃‍♀️:( Now I’m focusing on going outside in nature to do something for my health at least😊

[@lonestarr1490]

It's been 10 months. You still think so?

[@random23287]

Proof that introverts aren't people who hate all social interaction, they just like less of it and more time alone than extroverts. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@random23287]

@Bakamalian Yeah, that makes sense. It’s why people use the batteries analogy for introverts and extroverts. We are still social creatures who need some level of interaction, some people just like more or less than others. Personally, I wouldn’t mind spending 12 hours a day around people I like.

[@blinky9208]

Who asked

[@mangareader8318]

"they keep burning to death" weird, so does Graystillplays's sims when he does these sort of things

[@Someone-ro5ct]

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@Drion_MCGD]

its true humans are 69% more likely to die of oven

[@samvictor6084]

"12 months of isolation almost obliterated the animals socially." Me after 12 months of lockdown: *looks around nervously*

[@ZT1ST]

On the brighter side - we now have potential evidence as to whether a single, prolonged lockdown is better than Rowhammering lockdowns by having them brought in, then lifted, then brought back again, then lifted, then brought back in, the lifted yet again, then brought back in... You need 12 months of lockdown evidence? 12 of each is very easy to achieve.

[@Daniel_WR_Hart]

I'm still waiting for the obliteration to kick in

[@purplecat4977]

@@Daniel_WR_Hart Almost like social distancing and solitary confinement aren't the same thing or something. God, was EVERYONE this overwrought and I didn't notice because I have asthma and thought I was going to die?

[@PogieJoe]

It's crazy how much a simple phone call makes me feel kind of normal lately. P.S. Your graphics are always beyond incredible.

[@lucaisromo6815]

I haven't talked to my friends in a while, and just yesterday did I begin chatting over snap. I immediately felt more energized and happy.

[@sahifatazkhan9980]

Me too

[@syclice591]

I didn't realise how lonely I was until my cousin came to my house and left. I literally cried so much after she left because I instantly missed having her around.

[@EasterWitch]

After reading comments I realize I may be an anomaly in that I have actually enjoyed being alone for 6 weeks...

[@Tia-db9zn]

LiquoriceLover same here💀

[@fkhan2006]

Same... I feel fine. Somethings wrong with me

[@carolynrodriguez9579]

I’m very much an extrovert, at least I thought I was, and I’ve been completely fine. A few negative thoughts here and there, sure, but my mood stayed pretty normal to my regular life, and it’s weird XD

[@Jehty_]

If you are an anomaly than what am I? I have spent several month alone, long before corona and I never felt anything about that.

[@someonenothere8818]

@@Izzy-g7t Right？ Her supposed "study" seems to over look the fact that the rich people seemed to be emotionally stable despite being limited, which didn't seem to be due to social isolation. (mind you I don't understand why she did it at all since they were.....sims, it seemed utterly meaningless to me) What I think many people suffer from is the the lack of an option. Many are fine being indoors, but to be in lockdown gives a feeling of control that makes it feel like you're constrained. Many people now during corona aren't suffering just because of lack of social isolation. There's issues regarding healthcare, loosing your job, getting evicted, hospitals filling up, people dying everywhere which cause more stress on the entire population. Even if these issues aren't affecting you directly, they will still effect your mentality. People in captivity have access to nothing. They cannot leave a small confined cage, no access to the internet which doesn't allow them to know what's going on in the world around them, that's TOTALLY different.

[@Juniperrrrrr]

Hahaha, in the "SPRING OF 2020". How optimistic we all were.

[@EasterWitch]

I think the fact that we can keep in touch with each other through the internet has made it so that we cannot truly be in isolation (unless the internet is down). During my now 6 weeks of self isolation I have for instance talked more to my sister living 10 minutes away from me than I did ever since she moved there more than a year ago. For people craving physical closeness this may be trying times, but for an introvert like me I am feeling nice and calm on my own and have had the nicest dreams I could remember since childhood (probably because I don't have to wake up early anymore).

[@Corporis]

This was incredible Sabrina! Everything from writing to animation and production and a poppin' color palette.

[@SirMethos]

What hit me about the isolation during the pandemic, was that while I've never particularly been a social person, very much an introvert, after a while I missed, not the social interaction itself, but simply having the option.

[@calamitywindpetal]

I LOVE that you included class into this experiment. The graphics in this video are amazing and the whole thing really is just *chefs kiss*

[@hermionieismyqueen2097]

I’m an introvert, and I love my family, but stg right now I’m on the edge of never speaking to any of them ever again

[@hermionieismyqueen2097]

Also LONER

[@blinky9208]

Who asked

[@kerimbasic2795]

@@blinky9208 Do you really expect this man to answer to a reply on a comment from 1 year ago?

[@Dave_of_Mordor]

@@kerimbasic2795 will you reply to me even though your comment is a year older than mine?

[@edendenton7274]

I've been quarantined at my family home since today last year. I can't really go out, due to being immunocompromised. I don't talk to anyone except maybe eight people at most (all my family). I went from a happy group of friends, a healthy concept of self, and a successful college life to having nothing. I feel very adrift, as if I teeter on the edge of reality some days. I stopped talking to my friends, because by month four I felt like nothing could close the gap between us. I feel like I forgot all the things I learned just a year before. I walk around the house like a mosaic of who I was before. I wish I told my friends I loved them more. I want to leave, but I have no opportunities to do so. I feel like an animal trapped in a box, this comment just me uselessly tapping against the side hoping for someone to open it. It's two in the morning. No one will see this. I'll probably either delete this or- if I'm lucky- forget feeling this way when I get out. I never want to relive this again. It's like being awake is the same monotonous nightmare. But I can only sleep for so long and escapism only goes so far. I wish I told my friends I loved them more.

[@1Thunderfire]

This just reinforces my opinion in that lockdowns have caused far more damage than the actual virus itself. What's the point in keeping physically safe when this is the awful result for so many people? We have a vaccine now at least. The mass panic and hysteria will eventually die down as it has done for previous times. Other than that, I don't know what else to say other than I hope things get better for you very soon.

[@donb8088]

I wonder if the lesson of "I wish I told my friends I loved them more" will make a positive effect in the world after isolating is over.

[@macskasbogre133]

I've known my friends for 8 years and we've always talked over the internet because we live hundreds of miles away from each other. I hadn't talked to them in 4 months because I've been busy with college, and whenever I remembered that, it made me feel terrible because I'd thought they would be angry at me for not keeping in contact. It's the silliest thing I've ever believed. I assure you, your friends are going to be very happy to hear from you, even if it's just over the phone or the internet. Find multiplayer games and play with them while talking over Discord. Talk to them every day. When they're not available, take up a new hobby, find something to do every time you feel like you're slipping. And in the unlikely event they _are_ angry at you, tell them what you just said, and that you love them. I'm sure you're not the only one feeling this way. Take care.

[@catelynh1020]

One of the best things i did during the months when i couldn't do really anything was to set up a weekend activity with friends online. It didn't matter what we did, but we did it together and we reached out to anyone who didn't join for two weekends in a row to see if they were okay. We watched movies, played dnd, did multiplayer coop games, and sometimes just chatted. The best thing we did was likely have a casual online game server like minecraft or don't starve together, where we could work together or separate as long as we were chatting over discord.

[@steampunkastronaut7081]

Do you have discord?

[@TheGallicWitch]

More than a year into isolation and it makes me physically sick to think that we inflict this on prisoners and never think about it.

[@blinky9208]

Yeah, they are truly living the life.

[@catelynh1020]

Where i work they rearranged the cubicle walls so everyone is mostly shut off from everyone else due to, well, 2020. It's nice to have the privacy, i guess, but even though there are people literally on the other side of the cubicle wall, i feel so much more isolated and stifled because i have this small space and have to go out of my way to interact with people instead of just swiveling in my chair and calling out their name. How much worse prisoners would have it can't be described.

[@blinky9208]

@@catelynh1020 who asked

[@catelynh1020]

@@blinky9208 ah yes, youtube, where someone has to ask you for you to make a comment. And where you can't relate to or understand a situation because no one asked. I'm curious who asked you to ask

[@blinky9208]

@@catelynh1020 sneed

[@yunorotten]

I actually like being home not going anywhere, I wish I could just order groceries, people give me anxiety. Also this isolation may be harder on people who live alone, I have a partner who still has to work and cats, so I don't feel lonely. Also this does hit harder on poor than rich people which is common sense, thanks for inculind it on your sims trial :D

[@sagichdirdochnicht4653]

I can totally relate. I also gotta go to work, as well as my parter, however I don't socialize at work; I work alone and at night, others pop up only when I'm close to finish and I don't talk to the others a lot, only if I got to. And altough I actually don't see my girlfriend every day, as I'm often allready sleeping when she comes home from work, I ain't feel alone. On the other hand, I fucking hate humans, and yeah, they give me huge anxiety as well. Basically I haven't cut any social interaction since last year, but I can't cut whats not there. Funny thing is, in the past I semi often went out, meeting "friends" and all of that shit. But honestly, I was allmost allways drunk then, because alcohol makes human interactions very bearable, sometimes even fun. And especially since I've developed a rather serious alcohol problem over the years, I've stopped. And with it most of my social interactions. Never felt as fine. Being home playing games, watching stuff on youtube, building some shit or whatever is so much more fun and won't destroy my liver.

[@MushroomReaper]

“Hyper sensitive to normal stimuli, lack of focus.” Haha welp welcome to my hell of ADHD every one! Edit- also I’m sorry to every one, I know it sucks.

[@j.j1916]

Gotta be honest, as someone with ADHD I haven't felt different in that sense, just more lonely

[@barrysteakfriessimp_real]

my autistic and possible adhd brain with simple objects:

[@gormauslander]

I am also an introvert, and my social interaction before lockdown was going to get groceries and shouting online. Quarantine was _better_ , because nothing changed except now everyone else lived like me and it felt kinda neat

[@SneezingSquink]

Sabrina, I've been watching you ever since your debut on vlogbrothers when you were just a teen obsessed with Doctor Who. Since then, I've been amazed time and time again how you've grown and how your video styles have changed over the years. You are such an inspiration to me especially recently with the amazing animations. I'm a graphic design major minoring in motion graphics. I can only hope to become as amazing as you not only as an artist, but a person. Thank you for your dedication all these years to making amazing content. Best wishes. ❤️

[@jellyfish2556]

TLDR: Basically an excuse for Sabrina to play the sims for the whole quarantine

[@xarin42]

Seeing everyone talk about how even as an introvert they are still hurting from this feels weird for me ... I know the situation is bad for lots of people and I do feel for them, but for me personally, being able to isolate a bit more and drop so much has resulted in my quite poor mental health actually recovering a bit '^.^ but it does kinda make me feel like a bad person to say that this pandemic is making me feel better overall rather than worse '>.>

[@unoenigma9]

Xarin Sliron i can relate

[@Snowshowslow]

I hope I speak for everyone when I say: good for you :-) If some good comes of it that makes me a lot happier than if this would also make you sad. Have you figured out what is was in your life before lockdown that made you feel so bad?

[@ida_sleeps]

I hope this doesn't mean that you usually have people around you that drain you. I know for me when I moved out into an apartment by myself, I felt better despite the isolation, because toxic people are worse for your health than isolation is

[@xarin42]

@@ida_sleeps I do have them and they are worse... not much that can be done about them for now though '^.^

[@Gravite56]

I also relate ❤

[@TommoCarroll]

Great message right at the end there Sabrina! Obviously loved this video - insanely huge production and so well done as always! We're so lucky to be in a time where we can still keep up social contact etc. whilst physically distancing ourselves...I can't imagine how hard it would have been back in the ol' times when something like this happened!

[@frozenruby4222]

Cruelty and Sims4 said pretty close together Graystillplays: *I HAVE BEEN CALLED*

[@eeviu]

"If you're watching this in the spring of 2020" that hurts

[@izzywizzyfromthefiz]

"If you are watching this in the spring of 2020..." Laughing in April 2021 isolation

[@Void_Dweller7]

Worst 2 Years of my life. It’ll ruin me forever

[@thecanuckredcoat4142]

Learning about introvers/extroverts I had it described to me (using something of a simplification) -Socially comfortable introverts -Socially uncomfortable introverts -Socially uncomfortable extroverts -Socially comfortable extroverts breaking it down Socially comfortable means you're the sort of person who can easily interact with people, talk to people in the street if needed etc. Socially uncomfortable means you don't interact well with others if you aren't already comfortable with them, sometimes called shy or quiet. Introvert is the fact that you need alone time, you time with yourself and/or a particular loved one (wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, Husbando etc.), with relative frequency extrovert is when being with others is something that energizes you, you find yourself energized by being with others and can spend time with others indefinitely and to you being with others is the best thing. take some time try to find where you sit.

[@pixelprincess7601]

This is pretty accurate. My husband and I are both major introverts, but he is comfortable interacting with people, while I tend to be shy and quiet around everyone but my close friends.

[@skippergin2695]

I got less depressed over this period of time. I'm still not depressed and my anxiety is much lower. I'm sure total isolation would bother me but, this works for me. My career, which I'm about to start, is entirely from home.

[@ollie2111]

"'To see how that works let's consult-" Me: "The American prison system that incarcerates people and houses a whopping 25% of the worlds prisoners and yet doesn't have the lowest crime rate. Of which these prison systems use solitary confinement (isolation) frequently for *years* at a time. The longest being a man who was in solitary confinement for 40 years. Often incarcerated people are put in there for decades, it can be over minor infractions, to 'deal with' a mental health crisis, for retribution if an inmate tries to report a guard rape, or 'for their own safety' such as... well, right now during the pandemic where people in prisons are being treated even more inhumanely than usual." Her: "The Sims!" Me: **surprised pikachu face**

[@Misstressofdons]

RIGHT?!

[@gasun1274]

omg youre so smart even though you just took the first article of a google search omg im so impressed im dumb but youre smart smarter than everyone omg im so jealous

[@ollie2111]

@@gasun1274 funny you think that when I wrote the whole thing myself based on multiple different bits of information I know from following criminal justice reform people.

[@neztech.]

@@gasun1274 this is widely known information why would u need to search this up lol

[@iamashape7505]

Social distancing has really made me appreciate the people around me, and realise how dependant I am on them

[@luccaventurini1011]

"If ur watching in the Spring of 2020" yeah... Summer of 2021 and it's beginning to come back now

[@lewiswestbrook9084]

Good got to say I felt like a big LONER without these videos But seriously I've really missed your channel and this was very fun to watch!! Great job on the animation!

[@elisebrown5157]

Watching this video 4 years later. Covid is still with us, but endemic rather than pandemic. We're all back to acting "normal." But I have to say I actually did really good during quarantine and social distancing. I'm an introvert, and to me, it just seemed like all the pressures to perform socially just relaxed and I could enjoy my alone time and hobbies guilt free. It was actually a net positive time for me. I think we should draw a definite line between being isolated with lots to do and be entertained by (my situation), vs. being isolated and also bored, which is the situation for prisoners in solitary confinement and those unfortunate monkeys. To me, that would be torture. I like my solitude with a healthy dose of freedom, activity, and entertainment.

[@QlueDuPlessis]

For me, this is heaven. No demands on my time. No need to care if I'm dressed appropriately. No need to 'be' that 'perfectly normal' person that I can only be for a short periods at a time.

[@IAARPOTI]

Do you remember a white room punishment? It's a heaven for you. You should go there.

[@JustSomeDude1213]

"Let's talk about it: social distancing. If you're watching this in the spring of 2020, you know what it feels like." Well, it's been a year and social distancing isn't gone.

[@lajoyalobos2009]

I don't know, the "lockdown" was pretty similar for me as it was pre-pandemic. The only difference is people aren't dragging me out to do stuff anymore which has been nice. I took summer classes in college and stayed at the dorm which was a ghost town. Other than work, it was almost zero human interaction. It was so peaceful.

[@cookingGuitarist]

No friends that I actually see, go to the store, go to work. Yet I'm always calm. This has been the way it is for years.

[@KarsenRyanLuis]

Oh booyyyyyy the distancing has really started to get to me lately. I was pretty okay for quite a while since I've spent multiple days per week alone for several months at a time for work but now a month in, living alone, having left the house only a handful of times and not interacted with a physical human person since March... the zoom calls and texting and snapchatting are the only things keeping me sane. The touch starvation is REAL.

[@jaydemorton9814]

OMG watching this in 2021 when all I can do is go to the shops and she's like if you're watching in the spring of 2020. :(

[@creativemind42069]

Well I actually was addicted to playing games on the computer for seven years. Didn't talk to anyone, just 16 hours play, 8 hours sleep. After I went to rehab for 2 years I actually was able to talk to people. Now corona virus hit and I'm just completely silent around friends.

[@WanderTheNomad]

I would be completely fine with staying at home if I didn't have hw for online classes.

[@peterhardisty6678]

the fact that this came up in my recommended right after I tested positive for covid and had to start self isolating

[@Loudfire18]

Commenting now in 2022 where almost all isolation, at least in the United States, is over for COVID: I am in my third year of college, having graduated high school in 2020, and I am JUST NOW starting to go back to being able to socialize normally again. I'm finally making friends, regularly talking with them, really being able to want and need alone time. It's crazy to think about, but that roughly year-long isolation, especially for an extrovert like myself, has taken about another year to recover from.

[@opalescentyams2742]

Replace the intro with "in the spring of 2021" and it still works.

[@Kriliska]

It cracks me up that this video was made in goddamn spring of 2020 when I was comfortably enjoying isolation... I'm watching it in spring 2021 and still enjoy it. XD

[@melofilobr9954]

then tell the Irish, French, Spanish, Germans, Russians, Greeks, Serbs, Turks, Persians, Arabs, Berbers, Han Chinese, Mongols, Tibetans, Koreans, Japanese, Filipinos, Malay, Vietnamese, etc that their people never existed, and their history is little more than fairytale. And for what? Oh, just because of you, the outlier, you're such a special little snowflake, aren't ya? If you can't have a nation neither can anyone else, am I right? Get over yourself.

[@yosefelm3918]

"if u are watching this in spring 2020" *watches this in spring 2021 and is still relating*

[@danella636]

I love how your videos always are about you pursuing a question you have, and learning everything to understand the answer, for FUN!

[@wills5945]

I’m isolated in my university house with 8 of my best friends in the world, with a list of anime to watch and multiple games to play through on the ps4. So honestly it’s not been so bad for me.

[@ForwardTokage]

*accidentally buys the sims 4 with business credit card* "shoot I need to turn this into a business expense"

[@-_-3315]

When I get out I can and will strike up conversations with random strangers whenever given the chance. This break is going to turn me into an extrovert

[@breadfastcereal8201]

I feel like this video and BDG's Sims video on Polygon are both really good complements to each other on how the Sims teaches you to value social interaction more. Makes me feel warm inside in this time of crisis :)

[@youronetruegodcthulhu5043]

My friends and I made a game out of seeing who would last the longest before we crack. I'm not saying I won, I'm just saying I was the last to snap. I mean, all my social skills, limited as they are, are basically gone, and I now have an unhealthy addiction to pinterest, so... But I'm not dead due to a freak kitchen accident, so there's that!

[@annakilifa331]

That last part is probably because your player made you read a book about cooking before they allowed you to use the stove. It's really not that hard to prevent sims from dying in a kitchen fire.

[@arianimations6255]

I have lived this experiment, watching this as a high schooler a year after this was released. I was a 8th grader march 2020, school was pretty much out 2021 went into freshman year on zoom pretty much no human interaction other then with my parents 2022 went back to school irl almost two years with not much social interaction i have gone through these symptoms and gone though totally loosing who I am and not understand why a few times at this point, high school has been very quiet, when you walk up and talk to people sometimes they just stare at you blankly, the hallways are almost silent, it’s so insane how this has affected my whole generation as someone who can normally talk to anyone about anything this has been freaking weird and honestly just put me in a perpetual sadness, and from how everyone else in my world acts this is the majority of people, especially high schoolers. It has started to feel like everyone is just zombies. I really hope we can all come out of this at some point and just be normal.

[@Nireni]

Ok but solitary confinement is SOO completely detached from the type of isolation we're spending now. The reason people essentially breakdown in solitary confinement is because there aren't alternatives for things to occupy the mind. Current world isolation right now is simply being physically away from people, but we still have access to the entire world of people through the internet, able to video chat, watch movies, listen to music, read a book, magazine, play games, take a walk, change to diffetent rooms of your home instead of being confined to a 6 foot room that holds both your bed and toilet.

[@Ice_Karma]

Just under two years after this video dropped, I've been self-isolating now for 764 days -- since 8 March 2020 -- and... my mental health is _complete and utter _*_dogshit._*

[@azizuladnan2957]

I have been introverts since I was a kid. But the past few years, I realise that I'm good at socialising (Even I usually do the first conversation). So I ended up calling myself as an extroverted introvert (or social introvert, as I prefer stay at home more). Thus... this pandemic kinda makes me... umm... suffer a bit... but I can still manage it. However, I feel like I need to have some conversation with someone as the same age as me right about now...

[@goobydooby69]

i think social distancing was really hard for the first few days, because i had the weight of the virus and everything on my shoulders, but it's been almost 6 weeks and i'm used to it. i've been more happy over the past week or two than i have been in a while, even though i see one human a day (my mom). i think my cat has been a help, since she's very grounding, but especially the fact that i spend a lot of my time on discord, talking to my friends about anything and everything. similarly, i think watching youtube, where i can see a person talk to me and move around like people do in real life, is very helpful. seeing someone do human things makes my monkey brain think i'm with them, talking to them. this video was good! keep it up!

[@justjulia1720]

It's weird when I know it's bad for me and I can see how it hurts me, but I still have no desire for it. And the more alone I am, the less I wanna go out and stuff.

[@namelesschannel4103]

“From where did you get this information?” “Oh! From The Sims!”

[@Anathea]

Thank you so much for this, it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who feels like trash during this time.

[@Littlebluebirb]

Closest example i can think of of a human person living in isolation is Christopher Knight, who lived in the woods for 27 years and and stole from cabins in the area to survive. I think the only time he talked to a person the whole time was saying 'hi' to a hiker he bumped into on a trail.

[@Galphanore]

Being in isolation hasn't bothered me even little, but that may be in large part because I have been meditating off and on for decades so I've been treating it like an extended retreat and it has been great.

[@i-am-a-furret9716]

I’m watching this in spring of 2021 and very little has changed

[@kgofi7747]

Been waiting for this for so long❤️ come through with the content Sabrina

[@salem_ness]

I just want a hug from someone that is not my family

[@eggnblood]

"It doesn't feel good" Me, who's had the best month of her last 2 years: *pathetic*

[@VJim-ic5yc]

finally someone said it, if you asked me a month ago 'how's your life going?' my answer would've been: depressed, anxious i hate everyone and everything, thank you very much. But for the past month i'm in paradise. I almost feel guilty not gonna lie.

[@Halloween111]

Same here. I've developed misanthropic tenancies over time (Largely due to being around people) This hasn't really impacted me as I social distanced long before it was cool.

[@buddyyyy]

Peolpe who grew being an only child and their parents were always working: It's show time!

[@xandersore3442]

The Sims part of this video reminds me of Brian David Gilbert’s sims video

[@addisonvaughn8220]

in church my pastor gave us this quote and idk who it was from but it said “I am not myself by myself” and like that’s so true and whenever i feel isolated and i overthink things and get mad at myself i just remember that i really am not my best person when i am only trusting my own thoughts. i think it’s really reassuring advice for anyone else who struggles with mental illness 💛

[@xternalmega]

"Researches who watched prisoners in solitary confinement noticed a complete breakdown or disintegration of the identity of the isolated individual " _And though he wished for death, he was unable to die. So eventually, he stopped thinking._

[@rampantrambling]

Social distancing was actually pretty sweet, I'll miss it

[@Thunder-Sky]

"if you're watching this in the spring of 20..." yep, how'd you know? "...20 then you know" oh shit right its been a year

[@catelynh1020]

As of summer 2021, fully vaccinated but hearing whispers of a delta variant that'll likely take over and a stupidly large chunk of the population deciding they don't need to contribute to herd immunity, i really don't want to go back into another year long quarantine. You've got people like my neighbors who disregarded it the first time (there was always at least 5 cars at their place that came and went at all hours) and the next state over was slow to use masks and quick to remove them, so there was always this sense of frustration and despair that no matter what i did, there were more people undoing the benefits. Living alone, working remote with a once a week 30 min chat that wasn't a stressful work call or meeting, i don't know what would have happened to me if i couldn't escape to my parents' rural home for people time. I wasn't even allowed into the house until they were fully vaccinated. Nearly every weekend was spent helping in the garden or (when it was too cold to do anything), wrapping up in quilts next to a fire. I'm an introvert, but if i went even 2 weeks only having that 30 mins of relaxed people time a week, i literally couldn't work, and the longer i went without people time, the less i could reach out and the more sedentary i got, only sleeping when i wasn't attempting to work. Which became a really hard cycle to break

[@ReadyWoeWolfgirl]

As someone who used to have prettu bad social anxiety , i kinda felt like I was socially isolated during my college years. Then finally after therapy and working on myself I got a social network and them BAM covid happened. Feels so bad, I am wasting away another two years of my life....

[@charlenecarreon1524]

Always beyond impressed and captivated by your graphics and animations! It's clear you put a lot of time and thought into them and it enhances the enjoyment of the video so much more!

[@alionahamilton3427]

Every time Sabrina posts I go "oh! I forgot she exists.." and then I get really excited. 💜

[@erikarose740]

Really comforting that the bouts of rage I’ve been experiencing are actually normal for being lonely.

[@PhoenixtheII]

It doesn't matter if I go out or stay inside: I'll just feel lonely anyways, even in a group.

[@maidenofthewood5773]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your videos! If there's ever a day you can post frequently I will be ecstatic! Your topics are always fascinating, and I love how you are able to use the right amount of seriousness, goofiness, and hopefulness. When the virus happened I realized real fast that I didn't like calling it social distancing, physical distancing just makes more sense. I'm a fairly quiet and isolated person to begin with, but even this is starting to get to me... Thanks for the video, can't wait for another! Now I'm off to play the Sims! Lol

[@SailorLunaUnicorn]

I'm watching this in the spring of 2021 and... kinda same!

[@KumaBearOso]

As an introvert myself... My life has been largely unchanged by social distancing. I've still do most of my socializing by calling friends on discord, gaming with them through the night, chatting in group servers... My social life hasn't changed much.

[@JustLukeMorgan]

Omg! I'd forgotten about you, but I'm so glad you've made something. Missed this.

[@Lord_Phoenix95]

"My sims keep burning to death" that's just the sims for you.

[@mianoel360]

i hate feeling lonely and isolated it has to be the worst feeling.

[@ahappilee]

Gosh I love this video so much, you are legiterally one of my favorite video makers and this video has so many of the hallmarks that I love! Like, the good information, the creative way of demonstrating it, the comedic breaks- all of it is 10/10

[@villevalste1888]

Here's a thought: What about hermits? Or in other words, how does voluntary isolation affect people? In the examples mentioned in the video and including social distancing, isolation is more or less forced on people. In addition they're also being confined within a room or a house. I'd say, and I haven't looked up any studies on this yet so this is completely anecdotal, but I think if someone voluntarily isolated themselves from other people and did so in nature, that might actually have a positive effect similar to meditation.

[@striderstache99]

I was basically shut in in a new town for 6 years, in a low income apartment building that was basically a warzone everyday. I had no money no job don't drive so I literally couldn't go very many places. The bus pass was $150/mo which I couldn't afford either. I went to uni out there so lived off the school loans. Moved back home in 2018 and I'm definitely different. The PTSD of that experience is hard to shake

[@centerofmotivation1904]

I seem to have an opposite effect in some instances, when I hang out with some of my close friends I kinda feel more depressed then when I stay home locked in my room. I dont know what it Is about my rook but i find it as a kind of safe space where i am free to do and feel as i want. But also the idea of going somewhere new and interacting with new people excites me, I just dont like hanging with the same people too much if. Idk I'm kinda weird and I dont like leaving my room unless it's to do something new

[@krismieko9835]

i recently got out of a very controlling and isolating relationship and this was really helpful to explain how i didnt feel like myself or acted out of character over this past year, thank you so much for this welcome reminder on how comforting knowledge can be