Isolation can sneak up on us in the most subtle ways, but the impact is anything but subtle. Maybe you feel disconnected, like you're not truly seen or heard—even when you're surrounded by people. Or perhaps you find yourself spending more time alone than you'd like, and it leaves you feeling restless, uneasy, or even a bit out of sync.

About six months ago, on a bright spring afternoon, my otherwise predictable routine was shaken by a flood of texts from my oldest daughter, Josie.

Yesterday, as I was typing on my computer, the familiar email alert tone chimed. Instinctively, my eyes darted to the upper right corner of my screen, where a notification box flashed, revealing the sender—my child’s special education teacher. Instantly, my heart dropped into my stomach, and my breathing grew shallow.