Is anyone else finding socialising strangely emotional?

[TheThinWhiteDutchess]

I've been WFH due to covid for just over a year now, and apart from DH and two kids at home (and Zoom chats) I haven't really seen people since early November.

I've seen my parents a couple of times this week when weather allowed and also few friends. I've been fine seeing them (although a bit socially awkward). After coming home I've then felt strangely emotional afterwards, sort of like a tearful sadness.

I've been coping so well with the lockdown since January and now I just feel so unsettled. I guess this is all the emotions bubbling out after months of getting on with it. Is anyone else feeling like this?

I have felt tearfully happy about arranging to see people in the upcoming weeks. Very emotional.

I think how you're feeling is normal....at least I hope so as I'm pretty similar. Found myself quite tearful after dropping my DD back at school for the first time, and then last week seeing my mum. All the ups and downs of the last year I think it's expected to feel up and down now too .

I think I've forgotten how to talk to people. I bumped into a work colleague in a supermarket car park the other day. We had a quick socially distanced chat and all I did was babble.

I guess I wasn't expecting to feel so emotional as I feel like I've been pretty 'stable' recently. This has really rocked me, I feel a bit silly!

@orangejuicer

I think I've forgotten how to talk to people. I bumped into a work colleague in a supermarket car park the other day. We had a quick socially distanced chat and all I did was babble.

This! I am so worried that I have somehow forgotten my social skills. I've been WFH for a year and have barely seen anyone in person. I met a neighbour for the first time the other day (we recently moved) and I felt like I just didn't know how to talk to somebody! Came away feeling like I was really socially awkward

Yes to the social awkwardness, and I was already socially awkward so now I'm just 50% more awkward [laugh]

I've felt like this, also kinda socially awkward and really overthinking my reactions afterwards which I didnt expect to. I was in my 2nd trimester when the first lockdown hit but only just and had my little one in the summer so my maternity and pregnancy have all been pretty much on our own other than my mum who is in a support bubble with us so I also wonder whether it's the adjustment of socialising as a mum as well now. I'm happy for life to be returning to some sort of normality but also sad and a little anxious...its really confusing so nice to hear others are feeling discombobulated too

I cried all a lot last weekend when I saw my family for the first time in 6 months. I was happy and I can't explain why I cried just a lot of pent up emotion. I also felt exhausted afterwards.

Socialising id a bit awkward as there's been no fresh input for a year. After a few outings, people will start having a bit more to say and it will get easier.

It's so good to know that others are feeling the same about this! A lot of my friends are teachers or have jobs where they've been 'in' so I feel a bit isolated in feeling like this.

Me too. It's all very weird and unsettling.

Slightly off thread but I'm so desperate I will ask anyway. How do you make new local friends - children now secondary aged so no Mum connections. I moved post divorce to a new area and then lockdown. I want to meet people but don't know where / how and then throw in the social awkward ness of post lock down and it seems even more impossible.

Stress has been heaped onto us all over the last year: but not all at once; it's been insidious.
Hopes have been raised and destroyed repeatedly.
I think it's only now that things are starting to ease off, that we realise just how much we've had to deal with.
The pressure valve has been opened, and it all feels a bit overwhelming: in a nice way, but overwhelming all the same.
We've all been emotionally affected in our own way.

@Ginandtonic4all I have the same issue here, though with younger DC. People assume I will meet people through DC but given the socially distanced school drop offs/pick ups that's not really going to happen. I'm an introvert as it is, and after all the time in lockdown I could happily not leave the house all week. I am terrified of trying to make a friend. I'm trying to take solace in the fact that a lot of people will feel the same. I think I'm going to have to find a new hobby to try and meet some people in a gentle way. No idea what yet!

@Smashedpotatoes, it helps to know I'm not alone. Although I am naturally extroverted so the isolation feels extra cruel. I too have been racking my brains for new hobbies but they all seem excercise based and I Am seriously unfit and unable to run etcetc

What things have you considered?

I think it might be almost like a grief for the length of time spent apart?

I am finding it hard that my nieces and nephews have grown so much, older relatives seem much older too. Also feel guilty for not making the maximum effort to keep in touch with people, I really struggled with the January lockdown.

I've not worked from home at all, so have still seen people at work, but am still finding it a bit strange seeing friends and family socially. I enjoy seeing people, but sometimes I almost kinda don't want to go before I get there? Like I'll be driving to the park to meet friends and think "I can't be bothered", but I'm so happy to actually see people when I get there, but feel knackered afterwards for a like day .

Any ideas how to manage this weirdness?

@Ginandtonic4all I am similarly unfit and don't want to join an exercise group! One thing that I saw that I might do is litter picking, our area has lots of local groups (I know...the excitement), but light exercise and an opportunity to meet people in a pretty low pressure way hopefully. I can't do any craft stuff really so that's out. I do like gardening and used to have an allotment but there was at least a 30 year age gap between me and most of the other allotmenters so although it was nice to have a chat it didn't lead to friendships. A more outgoing friend of mine was just going to put a post on their local Facebook page asking if anyone else was in a similar boat and wanted to meet up for a cuppa. I don't have the guts for that, but admire the direct approach!

@Smashedpotatoes litter picking is a great idea. I toy with the putting a message out there but I think I'm afraid of the rejection.

In the old days of Mumsnet they used to do meet ups. Maybe post June I will try and do one of those locally. (Kent)

Totally agree about hopes being raised and dashed, it's almost as if I don't dare hope or plan any more. We have lost so many trips, events and celebrations in the last year, many at the absolute 11th hour. I feel guilty for feeling so flat because I'm still healthy and employed and others have it far worse.

I'm really reluctant to plan anything at all in now because I just can't cope with any more disappointment. It's an odd, empty feeling and I think it will take a good while to wear off.

My baby was born as we went into lockdown and today I took him to buy his first shoes, in a real live shop.

I’ve never parked in a parent n child before.

I cried.