How are we all going to thrive (stay sane) without human interaction?

[Sunshiney1981]

I’m seriously worried about my mental health. I wfh and am usually very sociable outside of work. Have never suffered with depression etc before Covid.

I found that side of lockdown incredibly hard and it started to adversely affect my mental health and that of my dc.

I’ve felt so much better over summer, have loved seeing close family and select friends. We even got away for a week in the UK.

But now I can feel the sadness and ‘bleh’ creeping back in and I know it’s the isolation and lack of socialising. How are we as humans supposed to cope with this when we thrive off our social interactions? 😞 I miss my family and friends so much and BJ saying it’s going to be 6 months.... ugh.

Friluftsliv: The Nordic concept of getting outdoors. Aka in Sweden, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”.

If there’s going to be a ban on household mixing, it’ll almost certainly be confined to indoors. So will try to make the most of a grim situation by ordering lots of warm thermal clothing and continuing to meet people outside. Not the best but not isolation either. I appreciate it’s harder for people who live away from families.

I wish they’d just introduce the household bubble concept. Yes it’ll be a headache in terms of choice but preferable to no mixing altogether.

You are certainly not alone most people are feeling the same xxx

My mental health failed during lockdown in ways it hadn't before.

But I am trying to just be more accepting of the situation, keep our social bubble tiny but enjoy every moment we are with others.

Trying to get things done in house and garden that we won't do when we can go out dancing again.

Don't know what else we can do really.

Don't get me wrong the black dog rears its head still but I just let it pass and try and read escapism novels in the bath.

Are you in a local lockdown OP? I'm not and although the rule of 6 has come in, things don't feel that different yet to how they did over the summer.
What has worked for me in the past is routine. Are there things you can still do that make you feel more connected to the outside world? Eg shopping, exercising etc (whatever you enjoy doing). When wfh it's very easy to just not leave the house for days on end but I found that eg going for a beach walk on a Monday or out even for a take away coffee on a Friday etc all really helped.
I feel for you though. It's very tough.

I'm scheduling in projects so that I can feel some progress and move beyond feeling stalled. Some small projects, like actually making a Christmas cake rather than just buying one and some larger, like decorating the living room. But nothing too ambitious so that I can get some easy wins under my belt.

Thanks for your kind replies. They nearly made me cry! I miss people.

Yes I’m in a lockdown area. Not allowed to socialize at all. I miss my parents and my in-laws and my good friends. Even just my acquaintances. I hate it. I feel like I can’t make plans either.

I did all the walking, gardening, house jobs, making, crafting things in the last lockdown and I’ve just lost interest in them now. Especially with the weather not being as good.

I have good outdoor wear and I will try to make a point of using it a bit more. I do yoga a lot at home which does help but I’m considering going back to a class as we can still do that (even though I can’t go in my grandma’s garden 🙄 😢)

Apart from pharmacy (once a month) and local shop (twice weekly until July) I have only left my home three times since January.

I lost my job on 5th January and then wrote my car off the next morning.

Finding a job at the moment is next to impossible and worst of all you don't even get an acknowledgement when you apply but they don't want you.

I know that this is standard practice in recruitment now but it is so disheartening.

I can't really see how this will ever end.

I’m also in a local lockdown area. We are not allowed to visit other households, but you are allowed to meet others in public places... so could you go for a walk with friends/family?

I think the rules are very misleading. Where I am, you are “advised” not to socialise at all... but it is advice, not a rule.

Starcat - I’m so sorry. That sounds incredibly hard. I hope you can get a job soon.

Jemima- really? I’m so confused by the he rules. I though it was just a blanket rule that you can’t meet anyone anywhere.... I’m off to do a bit more digging on that one.... thank u x

@Sunshiney1981
Thank you.

I haven't been on MN for about two years, when I suddenly thought to have a quick look about two weeks ago.

I wish I had thought of it sooner.

Users (posters) like you make me realise that I am not totally alone.

@StarCat2020 Oh you are definitely not alone. I know there have been many posters on here with similar feelings and I know lots of family and friends who feel the same.
Coronavirus has a lot to answer for....

I am struggling with this....on the face of it life is busy with three kids and our own business, but scratch beneath the surface and I feel very very sad. I’ve seen my mum and dad once since February, they were shielding and then local lockdown, which they’re still in. I’ve not sat with my best friend putting the world to rights for same reason. I paint on my life is great face but i ache for my old life and it’s very very sad

Op I do feel for you and I've also been bathed in wonderful warm feelings seeing colleagues again.
But old people have this all the time. So many elderly 🧓 are always lonely and cut off from families with or without covid.

This is just temporary. It could be a lot worse and as nasty as this virus can be, it could be so much more damaging...

Winter is going to be nasty. It just will be.
Take any action now to shore yourself up!

Moosshie if your dp weren't circulation why couldn't you see them?

Apparently its unnecessary at least according to the government.

God I am with you. I used to see my parents every week with dd, and now have seen them 5 times since March. I usually see my sister every other month or so and seen her once this year. I am so close with my fam it is killing me.

We have work and nursery runs and food shopping etc. But it’s just nothing that compares to meals and drinks and laughter.

I think my family and I are all on the same page when we say that we’re just going to see each other. A v close family member died due to complications from covid, so I’m not being a heartless dick, and I want everyone to be ok. But I can’t live my life like this anymore.

Its dreadful. We are still working from home and I miss all the small in teractions with my colleagues which are such a vital part of human communication. I actually hunger for human contact..faces,voices,touch. Trying to talk to my father in his care home via an open window, masked and gowned. No touch. Met a friend today for tea, sat in her garden wrapped in blankets. No touch. Ran into a friend I hadn't seen for months by chance. No touch. I cant live like this

I’m so sad to read all your stories. But at least I know it’s not just me.
The lack of human interaction is just not normal! We are social creatures and thrive off other humans. And whoever said meals together, wine, laughter, music, hugs is spot on 😢

This time of year always affects my MH, the days getting shorter, the weather getting worse, I know we can sometimes have an Indian summer but as the leaves drop off the trees my mood goes down. I survived lockdown by thinking that summer was coming & the world would look better with the sun shining, but I'm really dreading this autumn & winter. Especially as I'm housebound due to illness, that gets me down as well.

I have been trying to pace myself. One day at a time, etc. Just this week. If I look too far ahead, it all gets too overwhelming. It helps when I get reminders that all over the world, all sorts of people are struggling mentally with this strange new time. You're definitely not alone in this.

A lovely lady who survived the Holocaust said, some months ago: "It won't last forever. After rain, comes sunshine, and it will be nice again."

I look for flowers on my walks, have hot baths, watch tv shows I like, try to find something to laugh about, stare at pretty things online...

We are social creatures and thrive off other humans
I found that before COVID, I often used to speak to people randomly as I went about my day to day life.

I found that between March and July when I went to the local Co-Op to buy all my shopping (no home deliveries and no car) I found people were avoiding any sort of interaction with other people.