Feel differently about friends in these times

[Sunnysunshine125]

Sorry if this has been done before. Was feeling a bit down the last couple of evenings about how some friends are acting in these times.
Posting conspiracy theories and in general not acting how I’d predict they would have.
Friends of 20 years are just the same but I’m talking about a few folk I’ve known roughly 3 years. Just acting totally differently to how I’d predict eg acting as if not being able to be in a pub after 10 is the end of the world. I’d have predicted they would have been viewing things as a collective effort to try and keep everyone healthy etc etc.
Anyway a range of things will make me view them differently once this is all over and it was getting me down a bit...

I think stress and anxiety manifest themselves in different ways and denial is a very real response mechanism to situations people find simply too much to deal with so are compelled to find absolutely anything to regain a sense of control.

I take your point OP, and certainly wouldn't socially meet with anyone who was breaking the rules and would point out to them they risk others health in doing it. If they were spreading misinformation online I'd mute them and distance myself but I don't know I think it would be entirely fair to take it all as 'proof' that they 'aren't who I thought they were as a person'. Who knows what people are going through really and the concept is a bit sanctimonious.

@SengaMac "I think it's some sort of brain deficiency that makes some people view the whole thing as a silly idea from the government, rather than measures to deal with a deadly disease."

Totally this. Speaking from my own experience, I have a chronic long-term illness which is similar to ME and certain friends have a brain deficiency which means they don't believe in my symptoms or my illness. To put it bluntly, I think some people are either too stupid to get their heads around things, or confronting things scares them too much so they would rather just deny it all together.

I do think a lot of it is stress and anxiety and trying to cope with a new situation. I've been like a rollercoaster during covid, angry, resentful, trying to ignore it, throwing myself into it. I'm trying to make sense of everything and manage my life and those of my family and if that means the odd moan, incredulous outburst or whatever, so be it. I'm only human.

I feel sorry for your friend who has had her wedding cancelled. I'm focused on the things that affect me and my children, she's the same but for her it's a major life event. I understand it's exhausting to listen to it but I do feel for her.

PS sorry you're feeling down OP. Things are really, really tough just now and small things can seem significant. I've had some very low points too.

I can recommend reading novels as much as possible - I've been trying to read more novels, less internet. Definitely helps my mood.

LadyIronDragon- thank you- can you recommend a starter novel. I don’t read much and was actually meaning to get into reading..
Thanks again.

Just finished Troubled Blood (latest Strike novel) but wouldn't say it's a starter as it's massive Next I'm planning to read Educated (think it's Tara Westhoven or something?) as it's been recommended to me a few times.

This year my favourite book has been Where the Crawdads Sing, easy read but very engaging, unusual and a page turner.

If you like murder mystery thrillery type things there's loads of easy, enjoyable page turners by Lucy Foley, Lisa Jewell, TM Logan and a host of others. I've read and listened to lots in that vein over lockdown as pure escapism.

For an upbeat funny romance The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary was fun.

There are some brilliant book threads on MN with a lot of suggestions.

And the best thing is Covid is not mentioned even ONCE in any of them

Yes I do know what you mean, a friend of mine has become her streets chief curtain twitcher. Constantly commenting on how many people others have got in their houses, what they get up to in the evenings etc. Talking around reporting people for having their grandparents in their garden meaning it was a gathering of 7 including their baby.
It’s definitely made me see her in a different light.

LadyIronDragon- thank you so much... I will definitely use your list to get started👌

SoUtterlyGroundDown

Tbh, those people irk me more than the anti maskers!