Feeling distant or disconnected from loved ones, certain environments, or even yourself can be a symptom of alienation. Understanding its causes may help you cope.
Alienation occurs when a person withdraws or becomes isolated from their environment or from other people.
People who show symptoms of alienation often reject loved ones or society. They may also feel distance and estrangement, including from their own emotions.
Alienation is a complex yet common condition. It’s both sociological and psychological. It can affect your health and potentially worsen existing medical conditions. Treatment involves diagnosing the cause of alienation and following through with management strategies.
Read on to learn more about the symptoms, types, and causes of alienation, as well as what the next steps are.
Feeling distanced from work, family, and friends is a common symptom of alienation. You may also experience:
- a sense of helplessness
- refusal to obey rules
- unsafety when interacting with others
- exclusion from conversations or events
- emptiness or lack of meaning in the world
- difference or separation from everyone else
- difficulty approaching and speaking with others, especially parents
There could also be symptoms of depression that include:
- being fatigued
- lacking self-worth
- having feelings of hopelessness
- having a low appetite or overeating
- sleeping excessively or having insomnia
Alienation is a complex condition that affects many people. For example, a person may feel alienated by others due to cultural differences which
Below are six common types of alienation. Understanding the different types of alienation may help you better identify the underlying causes of alienation.
| Type | Definition |
|---|---|
| cultural estrangement | feeling removed from established values |
| isolation | having a sense of loneliness or exclusion, such as being a minority in a group |
| meaninglessness | being unable to see meaning in actions, relationships, or world affairs or having a sense that life has no purpose |
| normlessness | feeling disconnected from social conventions or engaging in alternative behavior |
| powerlessness | believing that actions have no effect on outcomes or that you have no control over your life |
| self-estrangement | being out of touch with yourself in different ways, mostly being unable to form your own identity |
Alienation can have many causes, from psychological disorders to social situations.
Health-related causes
Alienation can be the result of a mental or physical condition. Possible health-related causes of alienation include:
- conditions that cause chronic pain
- self-stigma as a result of mental illness
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - mental health disorders, such as anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- any conditions that may cause a person to feel singled out or disconnected
When alienation has health-related causes, other symptoms typically last more than a few days. If you’re concerned about any symptoms, consider speaking with a doctor.
Social causes
Social causes are typically defined by how you may feel disconnected from other people, your environment, or yourself. For example, a change in your environment, like changing jobs or schools, can cause alienation.
Job-related causes
Work alienation occurs when a person feels estranged from what they produce in the workplace. This disconnection may cause dissatisfaction and a feeling of separation from:
- the work you do
- your coworkers
- your environment
- yourself
As children grow, they may begin to distrust adults or the values they were raised with. Teens can often feel isolated from their parents, teachers, and peers.
They may feel anxious about their social skills or physical appearance. Teens can even feel isolated from their own identity. This can happen as they discover themselves and think about their future.
Causes in adolescents
Alienation is common among teenagers. It can also be a side effect of:
- growing up
- bullying or peer victimization
- big changes in their comfort zone
- attachment to a parent or caregiver in early childhood
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- emotional dysregulation
- lack of social competence
- absence of social support and inclusion from peers
Adolescent alienation is only considered a symptom if it accompanies other disorders, such as a phobia or a personality disorder.
Parental causes
Parental alienation broadly describes negative, alienating behaviors displayed by a parent, such as not being present.
Parental alienation syndrome, on the other hand, describes a psychiatric disorder in children, particularly in the context of divorce. Sometimes it can be an explanation for a child’s refusal to visit a parent.
Rejection of a parent has multiple factors. These can include interactions from both parents and feelings of vulnerability from the child.
This is not the same alienation that a child may feel toward a parent who is abusive, particularly if the child severs ties with that parent as an adult.
To treat alienation, the cause must be identified. People who experience psychological pain because of alienation may benefit from talking with a mental health professional. Developing a sense of empowerment may also help a person manage feelings of alienation.
For adolescents, a sense of purpose can be an asset. But searching for that purpose
Feeling alienated
- truancy (absence)
- illegal behavior
- drug or alcohol misuse
- unsatisfactory school or work performance
Alienation may also increase symptoms of mental and physical disorders that may include:
- eating disorders
- attempted suicide
- health effects from drug or alcohol misuse
- psychological pain, including anger and depression
While alienation can increase feelings of powerlessness and estrangement, it’s important to talk with someone, especially if you’ve recently had thoughts of suicide.
Alienation may be a symptom of an underlying cause. It’s a complex condition that may stem from health-related issues, challenging relationships with parents, or a sense of disconnection from peers.
Alienation can affect your mental, emotional, and physical health. If you’re experiencing symptoms associated with alienation, consider seeking help or advice from a mental health care professional for support.
It may also help to open up other avenues of support. If you feel comfortable doing so, talk with your friends and family.
You can also show support for someone you know by reaching out and spending time with them. In cases of parental alienation, your next steps may involve counseling sessions.