[Solitary confinement] is terrible. That is terrible…
![“[Solitary confinement] is terrible. That is terrible. You're in a grave. You can't do anything. Everything's brought to you and you're in a room all day, except to come out of the showers. So when I would come out, I would entertain myself by singing, doing little mock concerts. And then when I…” quote by Megan Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/115/megan-sweeney-180683_incarcerated-women_solitary-confinement-is-terrible-that-is_740216.jpg)
““[Solitary confinement] is terrible. That is terrible. You're in a grave. You can't do anything. Everything's brought to you and you're in a room all day, except to come out of the showers. So when I would come out, I would entertain myself by singing, doing little mock concerts. And then when I was in the room, I would develop a routine. Like I have a lot of hair under here, so I would take my hair down and take all day to braid it on purpose. Stretch the hours out. Then I might write. And I would clean the floor. And I would look out the window. And then I'd devote a whole day to just reading. I was Christian then, trying to be. So I would read the whole Bible. I would break it down into sections. You're in a grave and you're trying to live. That's how to best describe it: trying to live in a grave. You're trying to live 'cause you're not dead yet, but nobody hears you when you call out, 'Hey, I'm alive!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Solitary confinement feels like living in a grave, prompting coping mechanisms like singing, braiding hair, reading, and writing to survive.
In simple terms: Coping in isolation through routine and creative acts.
Key Takeaway
Find purposeful routines to endure hardship.
Themes
prison
solitary confinement
mental resilience
coping strategies
Mood
despair
hopeful
Type
Confinement:1
Incarcerated-women:0
Prison:1
Sanity:0
Segregation:0
Solitary:1
Solitary confinement:1
Women-in-prison:0
Confinement Terrible:0
Grave Trying:0
When to use this quote
- inmate life
- mental health support
- personal resilience
Key Concepts
survival
routine
creativity
spiritual practice
Questions to Reflect On
- What small rituals help you cope with confinement?
- How does creativity aid mental endurance?
A Different Perspective
Isolation can cause lasting psychological damage despite coping.