The difference is you have internet and a computer in your bedroom.

Inmates may be denied even a paper and pencil.

My computer is to read and listen music. She said she had books. No music though. And in the end it didn't matter because the lack of human interaction made her enable to enjoy or even understand anything. I agree that the automatic solitary => no object was unexpected to me. I read many times people could read and learn in prison. Too bad you can't blend both slight isolation and learning.

Do you use your computer to interact online?

Meta question detected, I must agree. But it's also very crude and shallow compared to physical interaction.

The point is that the inmates don't have even this. It may make a huge difference.

That's what I'm realizing slowly

What did you ate? Your bedroom was stack with food supplies for weeks? Or is it that someone cooked and you had some minimum amount of interaction with him?

Another difference is that you have seen difference between day and night. Once you have computer, you can get music or games or almost any kind of sensory you would need.

Another difference is that you had control over it. You could go out once it you started to be personally uncomfortable and you probably started because you felt a need for some solitude.

Anyway, when I had to work alone for long time, it had similar effects to my brain as it had on yours.

No it was in the kitchen fridge (fruits, veggies, pasta, a bit of meat, tea).

Interactions existed but are twisted, and I try to avoid them whenever I can. I agree that even bad interactions may be a little better than no interactions at all.

When living at night, I could see the sunlight around 5pm throught the curtains bottom.

It's true I do have control, that's what I tried to say above. I realize that even going to pee or shower is some kind of leasure time in that setting.