Avoidance could have positive connotations. For example, I avoid people and situations I know will be bad for me. I avoid active drunks. For a good while I avoided places that sold liquor (bars and such). So in that aspect, avoidance is a good thing.

Isolation is typically only negative. It's actually a punishment they use in jail so... I do think the two are obviously connected. We isolate to avoid doing things we probably should do, but are scared or just don't want to do for some reason.

As alcoholics, we have this evil self-sabotaging streak and it is strongest when we are all on our own. It's kind of like if you imagine the following:

There is a pack of zebras or whatever in the wild and then one of the little zebras goes off away from the pack to be on it's own. Who is the most vulnerable to getting picked off by a predator?

When you isolate, you become the lone pack animal and you are most vulnerable to being picked off by our #1 predator (alcohol).

That is why they say this is a "WE program" and there are sayings like stay right in the middle of AA. Stay in the middle of the row boad cuz it's harder to fall out that way. WE don't do this alone...etc.

In our culture, and by most of our parents we are raised with a mentality that we need to be as independent as possible and we need to achieve things using only our own merits..etc. This notion often needs to be undone when we come to AA. It's far healthier to utilize a support network and ask people for help, ideas, a clearer frame of reference.

So, the basic surrender is not just to alcohol but it's a total surrender to the idea that you are in control (cuz you aren't) and it's a surrender that you will always need other folks to help you (which is fine cuz we all do).

I suspect the "Avoidance" and 'Isolation" you speak of is really due to it going against your current nature to place that much faith in a 'program" and in other people. It's a process of giving up your will more and more to let other folks in and allow them to help you stay sober.

Just remember that we do have a disease that tells us we don't have it. That disease is strongest when we are alone. That disease tell us to avoid things that weaken it.

For me - I can't afford to isolate...I can't afford to get totally off kilter with anger, elation...grandiosity or self pity. We strive to stay centered so isolation and avoidance are extremes that are typically not good for us. You will know the difference between taking solitary time and meditating versus avoiding and isolating. You will know because there will be no fear underneath when you are meditating or taking healthy time to be by yourself. Meditating is time alone that you spend to seek solutions and be with your HP. Isolation and avoidance is time you willfully spend by yourself to avoid the solution and get further away from your HP.