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Original poster

Anyone else feeling more lonely and sad than ever with Covid regulations etc?

45 replies

Randomuser9876 · 15/01/2022 17:05

I'm not sure if there are any answers to this or I just want to ask if others feel the same.

Since March 2020 I feel so lonely and sad and it's not getting any better. I live with DH who's lovely and my 2dds so obviously people are much more isolated than me but I'm an extrovert and massively realise now that I get my energy from being with others.

I wfh 4 days a week (all my work hours) and so miss going into the office, wearing nice clothes, having a laugh with colleagues, bumping into people on the train.

I've stopped going to the gym as it was closed for a year and the main thing I like (spinning) doesn't seem very covid safe in tiny studio. I've put on heaps of weight and feel shit.

Most of dds activities have gone online (Carol concerts /parents evening etc) so those micro interactions that you have with people don't exist. Even school gates etc have changed and people keep themselves to themselves much more.

Things were starting up a bit last year and we started going into the office for meetings but Omicron has put an end to that and people so much less likely to organise stuff or risk it which I do understand.

But it's left me feeling crap. Everything feels so much more difficult now and just when I saw a light at the end of the tunnel dd2 got covid so we're back to home schooling /juggling work blah blah blah.

I feel like I've totally lost myself and don't know how to get that back, DH wfh full time too and although I adore him we're totally sick of each other!!! I have some great friends and do catch up with them when I can but everyone busy with kids/life/work and there's always some covid issue or another to consider. When I have organised stuff it's left me feeling shattered for days in a way it never would before.

Does everyone feel like this? Will it get better??!!

OP posts:
Missusblusky1 · 15/01/2022 17:09

Feel similar to to you OP. Don’t know what the answer is but I’m partially blaming it on the weather being so cold and miserable, went for a lot more walks and did stuff outside last year (within restrictions, although according to the news with Boris and co should have just done what I wanted!)

Tigertigertigertiger · 15/01/2022 17:09

Yes, me. I was ok till now.

Original poster
Randomuser9876 · 15/01/2022 17:21

Yes, the weather really doesn't help!!

At first there was a bit of adrenalin about it all and we thought we were doing the right thing.

OP posts:
WhatAHexIGotInto · 15/01/2022 17:22

I'm feeling a little better. I work in a really busy environment (school) so I hit the ground running every day, which helps I think. I've started to do more 'normal' stuff recently like go to the theatre, a weekend with friends. I just think we have to live life a little differently right now.

When I went away for the weekend, we all made sure we did LFTs, all vaccinated and boosted so I'm not quite sure what else people can do other than not go anywhere.

Original poster
Randomuser9876 · 15/01/2022 17:24

I think it helps if you can go to work as normal WhatAHexIGotInto

I'm actually jealous of people who work in schools which I'd never say before!!!

OP posts:
Keladrythesaviour · 15/01/2022 17:26

I'm finding it much harder to do regular activities I used to enjoy. I was bored today and had the day go myself and fancied popping to my nearest town for a mooch, a coffee and possibly the cinema - but then realised I couldn't be bothered because I hate wearing my mask in shops (steams up my glasses) and I can't hear what the shop attendants are saying to me, and I hate wearing it in the cinema. Coffee shops are a lot less fun, as you can't really just sit and people watch so easily and it's just generally less enjoyable. I feel like we are living in black and white where it used to be colour.

CormoranStrike · 15/01/2022 17:30

I know exactly what you mean.

I’d be up for hosting an online mumsnet quiz for those of us who fancy meeting new people.

Original poster
Randomuser9876 · 15/01/2022 17:32

I also hate wearing masks keladrythesaviour as I have a skin condition that flares up if I have to use it for any period of time so it's just not worth it.

So back to no cinema, theatre, social shopping, exhibitions etc etc. I am so fucking bored.

OP posts:
JanisMoplin · 15/01/2022 17:35

Yes I do. I was meant to meet a couple of ppl for lunch today and both cancelled. I think people have become much more anti-social.

I am not an extrovert but I do need a few people. My work is now entirely wfh. I try to get out of the house by working from a cafe or restaurant. I am spending the money I would have spent on travel on cappucinos ( try to avoid the cake).

Summersdreaming · 15/01/2022 17:46

Do you know when you can go back to the office? I've been office based throughout so the idea of not being allowed in seems mad to me!

Go to the gym, you are choosing not to then feeling bad because you don't go?

You can go to the cinema and shop without a mask, noone will say anything.

Leah2005 · 15/01/2022 17:53

It's definitely got to me now (extrovert here too). I can't concentrate wfh and find myself on Mumsnet, Facebook, googling stuff etc. Occu health tell me it is because I am looking for feedback/stimulation that I am missing from people around me. I have been off sick since before Christmas but am hoping to be able to work from an office when I return. Some of our teams cannot wfh and I'm hoping to cream in with them for a bit of company.

riverpebbles · 15/01/2022 17:54

@Randomuser9876

I also hate wearing masks keladrythesaviour as I have a skin condition that flares up if I have to use it for any period of time so it's just not worth it.

So back to no cinema, theatre, social shopping, exhibitions etc etc. I am so fucking bored.

If you have contact dermatitis from wearing a mask, for instance, you should be exempt.
Original poster
Randomuser9876 · 15/01/2022 17:56

My work goes with gov advice Summersdreaming so no office atm unless strictly necessary. I realise this won't be forever though.

I don't much want to go to the gym as I have heaps of skin problems and have had allergic reactions to antibacterial spray. They all spray it round like the clappers when you're working out and it's not a massive space so I can never really relax.

Take your point about going shopping etc without a mask but I feel like I'm letting the side down somehow and people may think I'm an anti vaxxer or summit. So again can't relax. Argh.

OP posts:
KellyABC · 15/01/2022 17:57

Yep, I'm feeling the same and have been for ages. Can't seem to snap out of it and constant colds and bugs from nursery dont help.

WorriedGiraffe · 15/01/2022 17:59

I’d go back to the gym as a start, omicron is a very mild variant and your presumably vaccinated too, why are you imposing restrictions on yourself when it’s making you miserable? There’s a lot here that you can’t control and that’s rubbish, but I think you should start living your life again in the areas you can control.

Original poster
Randomuser9876 · 15/01/2022 18:02

I also spend too much time online for stimulation Leah2005... It's getting harder to concentrate as the months roll on.

Riverpebbles have rosacea (though I do get contact dermatitis too!) there have been times I've had it in remission but had to wear a mask all day and it's really flared up again. Sure I could technically not wear it but makes me feel self conscious if everyone else is.

OP posts:
Original poster
Randomuser9876 · 15/01/2022 18:04

Ive been home x3 with Covid kids and somehow remained negative so it's not omicron I'm that worried about now WorriedGiraffe but all the performative anti bac stuff!

OP posts:
Kshhuxnxk · 15/01/2022 18:09

I think now with everything coming out about the wine parties it's all over for me now and I think that many people will feel the same. I have been back in the office as has a colleague for mental health reasons, we simply couldn't stand wfh any.more so basically they had to let us. Get a lanyard and stop wearing your mask. Go back to your gym or find a better ventilated one?

User2638483 · 15/01/2022 18:09

Ah sympathies if you are at home with a child with covid, it’s not fun and not nice for them having to isolate. At least the isolation period is less. I have to be honest though, apart from tht which I also experienced recently I have to admit I don’t recognise your current experience. I am going to the cinema, shopping, out to coffee, lunch and the pub with friends. The two musical group activities I do every week are up and running virtually as normal and we have been able to do concerts again. The kids are back at all their activities. I don’t really feel overly restricted at all. I do get to work in the office one day a week which is nice, although it is quieter than before I’m used to it now.
For me, compared to where we were this time last year I feel like there are hardly any restrictions at all.

Hopefully once you’re not stuck in isolating you’ll feel better about it all

katepilar · 15/01/2022 18:11

It taken a toll on lots of people. I dont feel great either.

TheChosenTwo · 15/01/2022 18:16

I can’t relate to how you’re feeling and it sounds like you’re consciously limiting yourself on doing things.
Spinning in a small studio - you’re all facing the same direction, no one will be directly facing you, at the place where I go everyone spays their bikes before and after use, it feels as safe as it could be.
I’m back to meeting friends for drinks/dinner, I’ve been to the theatre a few times in the last couple of months, friends/family come round, I don’t feel restricted anymore.
Wear a mask/don’t wear a mask, do what you can. I’ve never asked a stranger why they’re not wearing a mask, I don’t care. I travel on trains and tubes and see lots wearing them but lots not. No one that I’ve seen has ever been asked.
Get on with your life as best you can, don’t put limits on yourself Flowers

KirkstallAbbess · 15/01/2022 18:17

@Randomuser9876

I also hate wearing masks keladrythesaviour as I have a skin condition that flares up if I have to use it for any period of time so it's just not worth it.

So back to no cinema, theatre, social shopping, exhibitions etc etc. I am so fucking bored.

Im similar but have been to the theatre four times in the last month, been to the cinema loads, out and about in my city too, there's really no reason not to if you want to.

Snowdropsinourforest · 15/01/2022 18:18

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ILoveJKR · 15/01/2022 18:26

OP, I feel the same. I'm neither extrovert or introvert, just normal, in the middle but I have lost touch with friends I would only see at hobby activities. I dislike the masks and have developed horrendous facial eczema due to wearing them all day (healthcare, but not really frontline) at work which is still 2m socially distanced. I just feel low-line depressed
, fat and de-motivated all the time.

shinynewapple22 · 15/01/2022 18:31

I think most people feel a bit crap in January OP. At least in the summer people are more willing to meet up outside or take your children to the park together .

The good news is that the very high numbers with omicron seem to be coming down already so in a few weeks things are going to look a lot more positive in terms of offices being open again for meetings and other restrictions dropping .

In the meantime could you do something like running or swimming ? Do you have a friend who would join you in either of these activities ? And if WFH, are you friendly with your colleagues, do any of them live close so you could meet for a coffee at lunch time ? If it's a no go at the moment can you make some plans for the future so you have something to look forward to?