Alone in the Dark

Think of yourself confined in a small, dark room with no social interaction whatsoever in 30 days. Scary right? Not many will not fall for this, but in November 18, Rich Alati, a professional poker player, bet $100,000 that he could survive 30 days alone in total isolation.

Alati was kept in a small, total dark room with nothing except for a bed, fridge and bathroom. Even with all the resources he had to survive, He couldn’t last for a month and negotiated his release after 20 days taking a payout of $62,400.

There are several negative effects that social and extreme isolation can have on our minds and bodies. The professional poker player was no exception, it was reported that he experienced a different range if side effects such as sleep cycle change and hallucinations.

But why isolation so difficult for human to withstand?

We humans are social creatures. This is one of the main reason why living in isolation would be difficult. Many people that have lived in isolated environments such as researcher stationed in Antarctica – report that the most difficult part of the job is the feeling of loneliness.

Loneliness can be damaging to both mental and physical health. Socially isolated people are less bale to deal with stressful situations. They’re also most likely to develop depression and may have problems processing information. This in turn can lead to decision-making difficulties and memory storage and recall.

People who are lonely are also more susceptible with illness. Based on a study, researchers found out the a person’s immune system who feels lonely has responds differently in fighting viruses, making them more susceptible to develop illnesses.

The effects of isolation can become even more noticeable if you experience it in total darkness, causing both physical and psychological disturbances. People who are placed in isolation may also experience hallucinations. The lack of stimuli causes people to misattribute internal thoughts and feelings as occurring in the outer environment.

In fact, Alati reported that he began experiencing hallucinations by his third day in isolation, ranging from seeing the room fill up with bubbles, to imagining that the ceiling had opened up to show him a starry sky.

While the impact of total isolation can be severe, the good news is that these effects are reversible.

Daylight exposure can normally correct sleep cycle change – though this might take weeks or months before its fully adjusted. Reconnecting with family, friends or any other person can reduce loneliness and can help us restore a good physical and psychological health.

However, some people who have been held in social isolation against their will may develop long-term medical health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or also known as PTSD. But some people who have faced the challenge of being alone for an extended period of time may show personal growth, including emotional growth, feeling closer to the family and friends, and having a better perspective on life.

Even Alati has changed after spending 20 days in total isolation, reporting that the experience gave him greater appreciation for people and life, better attention and focus, and overall feeling happier than before.

How about you? Can you survive 30 days in total dark isolation for $100,000? Please leave a comment below. Thanks for your time.