Surviving alone — mental resilience
Machine translation from Dutch, not yet checked by a clinician.
Prolonged isolation has serious effects on mental health. Active measures help.
What to do
• Keep a daily structure: fixed times for getting up, eating and sleeping
• Set yourself small daily goals
• Read, write or do puzzles to keep your mind active
• Move every day, even in a confined space
• Stay in contact through whatever communication you have
Do not do
• Do not slip into passivity and complete inactivity
• Do not use alcohol or medication as a coping mechanism
Warning signs
• Thoughts of harming yourself
• Complete loss of daily rhythm and appetite over several days
Get help if
• You have had no contact with others for several days
• You have thoughts of harming yourself
Why this matters
Isolation undermines the immune system, mental functioning and the will to survive. Structure and small successes are essential survival techniques.
Source: WHO Mental Health in Emergencies · reviewed 2025-01-01