Isolating from friends or relatives for long periods of time may either cause one to long for meeting someone or to desire staying alone. After 24 hours of social isolation, dopamine neurons in the brain were activated when mice sought social interaction. Studies have also shown after only ten hours of social isolation– and despite people knowing exactly when their deprivation would end– researchers reported more social desires, loneliness, discomfort, dislike of isolation, and decreased happiness than they did before. Similarly, the identical findings were seen after ten hours of not eating. The researchers also found similar midbrain activity in response to food indications after fasting, and social signs after isolation. Those who expressed more social craving after the social isolation period showed a larger brain response to the stimuli.
Isolation from anything is usually uncomfortable at first, but one will slowly get used to it. In my opinion, getting used to being isolated affects one tremendously, especially if one is isolated for longer than a week. I think if one is alone for a long time, they may be afraid or fearful of another if they go out in the public again. Also when they stop isolating, they may long for isolation again and ignore people. Adversely, one may also feel very excited or happy to meet their friends and family again after not seeing them physically for so long.