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Essay: "Isolation and Solitude"by Wesley Martin Carnahan Here I sit in solitary confinement 22 â€" 24 hours a day, where I am isolated in a separate cell alone without any companions. Therefore, I can tell you with first hand experience that “isolation and solitude” have more bad than good. Let’s start with the mental stress. I’m quite sure some of you are asking yourself, “how can you experience any mental stress in solitary?” First of all, it’s the distance, second the emptiness, third the loneliness. When you add them all up it only leads to one thing: depression. When it’s all over with we do not come out of here as the same person. I’ve only been here in solitary for three years. Already I can tell the toll being in this cage has done to my attitude, and communication skills. It’s difficult for me to walk up to someone and make small talk. Why? Because I am cut off to the outside world. I’m isolated in a 6’x9’ cage. How many people do you know want to talk about my lifestyle? Yeah, that’s right, NONE. Then when they start telling me about their lifestyle out there in the so called free-world, I am so far behind they look at me as if I’m stupid. Then what happens? I’ll put it this way, some of us keep our heads up and pray for the best. Then there are the others that just can’t deal or cope with all the mental stress and depression. Which leads to their death in one form or another.
Visitation is another form of mental stress and depression. How? I will try to explain it this way. Let’s say I live in Houston, TX. They station me on a unit in El Paso, TX. I am 750 miles away from my family and loved ones. I do not get to see them. During a period of time that distance is going to grow a hollow hole. What’s in that hollow hole? Emptiness. What does emptiness lead to? Depression. What does depression lead to? Back here behind these old brick walls, it’s death, or attempted suicide. Out in the free world the spouse usually turns to someone to fulfill the emptiness, loneliness, and depression they are experiencing from being isolated from their family, loved one or spouse. Rehabilitation. Now that sounds good, don’t it? There is only one major problem here in the Texas Prisons. That word does not exist. These people do not give a damn about trying to rehabilitate you. Do you know how many educational, trade, or support classes I am eligible to take? NONE. Why? Because I am in solitary confinement. Here, they (T.D.C.-J.) deny me any of these classes. But every month they deduct six days away form my short way discharge date. Claiming I refused to comply, etc… I have not denied any schooling. They (T.D.C.-J.) are the ones denying my access. So here I sit day in and day out in solitary confinement wasting my life. Not being able to better myself by preparing myself to get out and become a productive and successful man once I become part of the society. If anyone believes T.D.C.-J. will have a helping hand to help you stay out, you are sadly mistaken. All they want to do is keep you isolated from your surroundings and confined to ignorance. Isolated â€" have any of you ever asked yourself, “why do they build “prisons” out in No Where Land?” It’s quite simple once you think about it. If you did not want anyone to know what you were doing, where is the best place? That’s right, No Where Land. The more they isolate you away from the public and your family, the more they can do and get away with it. Here I have been isolated in Ad. Seg. for three years now. I may have to pull nine more years. God, I pray not!!! How many of you believe I will become a productive and successful man once I’m out of here? No, I am not looking for any excuses for failure. I am only asking a question here. Because I already know it’s going to be very hard on me. I will be a like a “new born” upon my release. I will close with my best wishes to all of you. Take care! |