SOLITUDE:

The Nation’s Military

NOVEMBER 5, 2018
ANGEL FOSTER
EN 109 Professor Cowan
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Solitude among our nation’s military forces, whether retired or active duty, is a subject of

discomfort in our society. This needs more attention focused on the signs of it, because it can

have drastic effects on mental health and overall wellbeing. Solitude is seclusion from social or

human interactions on a regular basis. Human beings were meant to interact with each other,

therefore when one is subjected to either self-inflicted isolation or enforced isolation, they are

being deprived of a basic need. Men and women from all backgrounds sign away their lives to

defend this country, however the reality is that no one pays enough attention to notice the deep

feelings of solidity in these people. Society is so quick to thank a military member for their

heroism when they do something significant enough to obtain media coverage, but too often

forget these heroes may need some help every day.

Not many would look at a solider standing proud in uniform, prepared to sacrifice

everything for the love of our country and our freedoms as having a completely alone and

helpless complex about life. This is where mankind falters. Not a single person should ever have

feelings of solitude. The reality for many soldiers’ lives has become pushing the people who care

the most into a dark corner; in turn being surrounded in feelings of complete solidity. These men

and women, as young as 17, sign up to do anything it takes to make sure the United States is safe

and Americans get to keep the freedoms they are so accustomed to

While the military tries to educate and prepare a solider for foreign soils, the truth is no

one can really make a human being ready to deal with the things that are seen or done in the

name of duty. Anyone who lives their lives in America, having the morals of what is acceptable

here is going to have a lot to deal with when they see something appalling in a foreign country.

There are only so many things that people can see before they can no longer deal with these

images. Too often that comes with a heavy price not needed to be paid.
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There have been several studies done to show the different ways that solitude can affect a

person’s general health. Due to the way that humans are designed, solitude severs our social ties

and we are the ones who decide if it is temporary or longstanding. Booth (2017) advocates

“Friendship is a lot life food…We need it to survive…[we] have a basic drive for it… a

fundamental need for inclusion in a group life and for close relationships.” The fact that being an

active part of a group or community is a part of human basic instincts speaks volumes to why

solitude is so bad for our health. Military personnel developed deep connections with one

another to help cope with situations that they are currently facing during their service. Sadly, that

support system, that feeling of people surrounding a solider can relate to and understand where

issues are coming from are stripped away once soldiers return to the states due to being from all

over the United States. Leaving them feeling sheltered and alone. Solitude turns into loneliness

when a person is exposed to it for extended periods of time. Loneliness could easily be said to be

a symptom of someone being stuck in solitude for too long. Some scholars say that loneliness is

as bad for you as smoking cigarettes and can be more detrimental to health than physical activity

or even obesity.

The idea that extended solitude can actually kill a person is a very real thing. As

explained in Booth’s (2017) article, “[too much time] alone increases the risk of suicide…[it]

raises levels of stress hormones and blood pressure” (Booth,2017). Having that kind of effects on

the human body from something as simple as not enough of the right conversation in one’s life is

a big deal. It is important to seek out human connections and form bonds with people, if for

nothing other than one’s own health and wellbeing. Solitude can sneak up on anyone at any point

in their life. When most people hear the word solitude they think of teenagers with their faces in

their cellphones, locked away in a room refusing to come out and socialize with family. The
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reality of it all is much different, many veterans come home only to lock themselves away from

the civilian world because it has become so foreign to them after being deployed in hostile

settings.

Military members, whether retired or active duty, often do not feel the crushing pressures

of solitude until they come back home from an extended deployment. This affects more than just Commented [AF1]:
Commented [AF2R1]:
the soldiers themselves. It is also detrimental to family and loved ones. They often feel like

foreigners in their own homes and communities. This transitional period can make anyone’s life

fall apart, whether it is the member themselves or their family ties. As written by Winch(2014),

“Despite the best efforts and intentions of those around them, they feel

like aliens in their [own] communities, strangers in a familiar land. They went

through the motions of “ordinary” life but did so with a marked sense of

unreality.”

The United States military personnel deserve to be accompanied with a better life post-service

than coming home and feeling completely lost among the people that they have fought so hard to

protect.

Without proper help and support, solitude comes easy to them. It is estimated that 22

veterans a day commit suicide due to service related issues. That’s 1 every 65 minutes. Solitude

is a huge contender in this problem sweeping the nations protectors. This is the unfortunate

reality for a devastating number of American soldiers. In his book, Klein (explains “[Veterans

Administration] controls about 10 percent of all the psychiatric beds in the United States”

(p.221). That is an astonishing number of patients who, to some degree feel the pressures of

solitude. Health professionals are not asking the right questions. The Veterans Administration’s
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healthcare has fallen short for our nation’s military. They are not noticing sings of mental health

issues and solitudal tendencies before it becomes a long standing disease. It has become an

epidemic among our Veterans and active duty Military. This is an issue that no one really thinks

about.

There is a plethora of military service member communities that reach out to veterans and

active duty soldiers. One that intrigues me is the idea of motorcycle clubs. Inside an article

written by Mondaca(2018) he expresses “Motorcycle clubs and motorcycles offer (a) veteran two

vital things postwar: camaraderie and solitude, both of which the veteran needs in equal doses.

From the brotherhood of former platoon mates, to the solitary veterans riding nowhere in

particular”. Even though Mondaca uses the word solitude to make this statement, it is used

incorrectly. While the veterans are alone on their bikes, they are also surrounded by other club

members who are enjoying the ride just as much as they are. It gives off the idealism of solitude

but still contains all of the interaction and camaraderie of a platoon, with men that can be trusted

to have each other’s back. Being surrounded by people who can understand the things that a

veteran or active duty members lived through and feels can alleviate a lot of solitude. It sets the

environment for them to not feel so guarded and potentially open up to someone. Therefore, the

claim of someone finding solitude in a motorcycle club is invalid.

Solitude has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, weakened

immune system, and even dementia. Something that is thought of as a small, irrelevant issue can

be traced to varied health issues. This issue needs addressed on a global level. Precautionary

measures need to be implemented in standard military care to try to avoid feelings of solitude, as

well as help those who suffer from solitary. A message needs to be sent to veterans as well as

active duty members that these feelings are to be expected, but they are not to be lived with.
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References

Booth J. (2017) Why too much solitude can be bad for you. Healthy Living Retried from

https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2017/why-too-much-solitude-can-be-bad-for-

you.html

Klein R. (1981). Wounded Men, Broken Promises. New York, NY: Macmillian Publishing Co. Inc.

Mondaca, P. (2018). Road warrior. The Globe and Mail Retrieved from

https://libdb.mtaloy.edu:2443/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1984642205?acco

untid=12600

Read, K. (2013). The good life. Star Tribune Retrieved from

https://libdb.mtaloy.edu:2443/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1442255124?a

ccountid=12600

Winch, G (2014). The Unexpected Loneliness of Combat Vets and POWs with PTSD. Retrieved

from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201406/the-

unexpected-loneliness-combat-vets-and-pows-ptsd