Anyone else feel Covid has taken their mojo?

[Marianne1234]

For want of a better expression.

I’ve always been a sociable person. Enjoyed going out for meals, pubs, cinema etc. i also loved going to friends houses for dinner and drinks, and also hosting them at ours.

Recently I have just lost all interest. Not in an agoraphobia/anxiety way - I have no real fear of Covid (omicron is a head cold) although I do for the most part follow the rules (and have done throughout). I’ve had my jabs. I can go places like the supermarket etc because I need to. that’s all fine.

I just can’t be bothered with it. I can’t be bothered with other people. I can’t be bothered making the effort. I just want to stay in my bubble with my kids. I don’t really know whats happened to me.

Husband said to me today that we need to have our neighbours over (good friends, always had a good laugh and a few drinks with them regularly) and to be honest I just can’t think of anything worse. The effort. The cleaning. He also wants us to go out together soon because it’s been a while. That means kids to grandparents. Having to find something half decent to wear. No. Just leave me alone.

Husband is concerned I’ll have no pals left. He isn’t really sharing my apathy (although he doesn’t go out much himself).

I also need to, NEED TO lose some weight. And start being more groomed etc like I used to be. And I just can’t find it in me. I don’t have the energy and suddenly it doesn’t seem important (but it IS important).

I WFH full time and I wonder if this is really what’s behind it. It’s like I am completely out of the way of socialising. Maybe I’ve lost my confidence with it?

I’m the same OP. Being fairly covid cautious, no pre Christmas hair appointment so looking wild too which doesn’t help

The latest work from home order has really affected me, and really don’t feel like seeing anyone. Have declined invites as it’s just effort to get ready.

Feeling anxious too. I did go to works Christmas lunch but needed a few minutes in the car to pull it together.

My wife and I both wfh now - we fight each other to answer the door to the Amazon delivery guy because we’re so starved of interaction with other humans (slight exaggeration - but not much)

@ILookAtTheFloor

This hasn't been my experience at all. Admittedly I don't really have any friends but when it's been allowed I've been out to gigs, meals, pubs, the cinema, the theatre and it feels AMAZING to be at these places, it's given me a whole new appreciation for them. I'm embracing everything.

Same for me. I've found most friends exactly the same - everyone is pretty keen to go out and meet up and I appreciate it much more than before! One of my close friends was terrified at the beginning, got covid and had virtually no symptoms so has calmed right down about it. I do feel sorry for people whose friends won't go anywhere or do anything (they seem to be rife on mumsnet but I don't know many/any in real life).

I fon't mind the wfh as I did it the majority if the time pre Covid but I agree on everything else.

Having to book things then not tell the kids about them until just before we go because they have had enough disappointment at things being cancelled.

Having zero topics of conversation now. I'm not big into chit chat anyway but I struggle to make even the most basic conversation now so find myself avoiding people as it is so awkward.

Even when you do manage to go somewhere 'fun' you are bombarded with messages of doom and never ending instructions on how to stay 'safe'. We went bowling today with the DC and we are now back to one way systems and all that crap (Scotland) and we had constant messages flashing on the screen remind us of all the ways they are keeping us 'safe'.

People just seeing children as walking virus carriers as opposed to actual real human beings with needs, wants and feelings.

That languishing article, the suggestions on how to overcome were very poor, for ME. I thought is that it? Is that the best you've got?

Yes, it feels as if the colour had gone out of life a little.

For me, I think it’s connected to the feeling that everything is uncertain and provisional- no future plans can be relied on so there’s nothing to safely look forward to. I’ve found it helpful to think about the things that aren’t so uncertain- I’m looking forward to the days getting longer, my cherry tree blossoming, nesting birds in the garden etc. But obviously this doesn’t make up for the rest.

Yep. Hate the fact I'm on edge at every sniffle 'in case', despite hardly going anywhere and testing negative all the time. Hate the fact that everything seems like a tentative arrangement in case restrictions change. Hate the fact that everything pleasant or even functional comes with a side-order of nervousness in case of infection.
I feel it's really impacted my ability to trust myself, too, to the point where I don't know if low-level earache is actually happening, psychosomatic or a symptom of Covid that I've forgotten about.

I feel like a dog that used to live in a family home but who for the last two years has been in a dog rescue home, caged, fed and watered, but totally miserable and fading away

Yes I can relate. I can feel myself sinking deeper into depression. I've stopped doing things I used to enjoy (even though I could technically still do some of them despite restrictions). It's no way to live. I have to believe that we'll be free of restrictions in the foreseeable future to keep going, and I'm not even among the worst affected. The collateral damage of the covid response has been far more damaging to far more people than the virus itself. It has to change.

@ChristmasRobins

Yes, it feels as if the colour had gone out of life a little.

For me, I think it’s connected to the feeling that everything is uncertain and provisional- no future plans can be relied on so there’s nothing to safely look forward to. I’ve found it helpful to think about the things that aren’t so uncertain- I’m looking forward to the days getting longer, my cherry tree blossoming, nesting birds in the garden etc. But obviously this doesn’t make up for the rest.

I just want to fast-forward to March now. Jan-Feb was bleak enough this year.

Oh goodness yes. You have described EXACTLY how I feel. All the things that used to make me happy - socialising, going hit days out, meals out etc just leave me… flat. That’s if I can be bothered to go. I don’t know what would make me happy any more. (I’m not miserable, just flat).

I just want to fast-forward to March now

That's what I said this time last year. I wished I could hibernate until spring.

And yet, here we are again.

God I’ve found my tribe I was really pretty happy in 2019 I had three great businesses two hobby one lucrative two years on nearly I’m employed with the DWP I work in a soulless environment which there are no laughs. I bought a horse to compensate for doing nothing going nowhere and I do love him but I’m not even enthusiastic about him at the moment. I can’t be bothered to go anywhere see anyone I was really fit in lockdown 1 now I’m not and gained weight feel awful. I can feel no joy happiness anywhere I just can’t be bothered and I’m looking for motivation and I can’t find any

@Botherfreedays

Oh goodness yes. You have described EXACTLY how I feel. All the things that used to make me happy - socialising, going hit days out, meals out etc just leave me… flat. That’s if I can be bothered to go. I don’t know what would make me happy any more. (I’m not miserable, just flat).

Yeah, I've found it difficult to get enjoyment now from most social events.

I used to love a night out/evening out but don't really enjoy that anymore, or don't see it as worth the hangover the next day, or the wait for the few days after it to see if you've caught the bloody thing.

I went to a gig in November which i'd booked before the pandemic and looked forward to throughout (it had been put back a year). I really enjoyed that but then going out after it I just felt flat again. I used to enjoy being out for the sake of being out and in the company of friends.

Good live music is one thing I can still enjoy at least. The worst was 2020 being sat in the pub and there was no music allowed. I just wanted to go home.

To some extent, yes. It's easier to not bother. Home is safe, and socialising is much harder work now because we're not used to it. My appearance (and weight) are making me a bit sad when I think about seeing people I haven't for a while.

I'd just started to go back to more of a normal life (meals out, shopping for pleasure, a weekend away, even soft play!) before Omicron. But now that's all stopped again, I'd really rather not get Covid right now and it seems inevitable if you go somewhere busy. I am hopeful that in spring things will go back to more normal and I'll start doing things again... but until then I'm hibernating. I am also absolutely determined to lose weight and get fitter, as I feel ancient.

Yeah, agree with lots of the posts above. I'm still anxious about catching Covid (one reason is that I'm currently living with elderly parents) so don't do any of the things I used to e.g. theatre, museums, eating out etc...Feels like the only thing I enjoy doing at the moment is walking and exercise and don't want those to be taken away from me if I get long-term effects from Covid.

Totally agree. Everything takes more planning, more thought, more of an ordeal, and I'm not a planner by nature. Spontaneity seems a thing of the past . Totally lost my mojo too.

This is exactly the same for me.

I’ve sort of resigned myself to the fact that it will probably take a long time for all of us to gradually come out of this, as the pandemic wanes.

My goal in the new year is to lose some weight and read some books, and get the house decluttered and sorted again. Baby steps…

I will join this club.

I'm pretty sure I'm not depressed... But life has lost its colour. And I'm really good at making the best of things, doing the most that is allowed within the rules, dinner at friends houses, got abroad to Italy in summer 2020 and autumn 2021.

But I love making plans, I get such joy out of looking forward to gigs and holidays. And now I can't plan too far ahead, I can't assume it's going to happen and the disappointment when another amazing event is cancelled is awful.

I don't have many ideas to improve things. I guess just keep booking things in and read the T&C's carefully.

I'm very lucky to be able to afford to keep booking stuff with little thought about how long it would take to get a refund.

I think the mental health backlash from this time is going to be harsh I’ve gone along with life like I said first lockdown I was so fit weather was outstanding managed to get to Greece then slowly over the last year my mental state has deteriorated and yesterday I was crying for what I’ve lost it feels shit and horrible I feel like I’ve aged years

I absolutely relate to this. I force myself to socialise but am always relieved when things get cancelled, would much rather stay home with DH and DC. Also, WhatsApp seems to have taken over my life, I’m on a constant treadmill of message answering and I’m starting to resent people for getting in touch. I want to simplify and cut out a whole load of stuff I no longer want to do but I haven’t even got the energy for a bit of NY goal setting.

Totally lost interest in cooking interesting meals too, I just seen to cook the same 4 or 5 boring meals on rotation.

My phone addiction has got worse mindless scrolling mindless it’s just all monochrome no joy or colour cooking jeez it’s just another hassle everything is too much trouble it seems

At the moment I am being super cautious. Also just before Xmas so many plans were cancelled that I don't really feel like setting up new ones. Once schools go back my DC's will be super exposed so any meet up I will set up will likely have to be prefaced with: dc1 was exposed to a positive Covid case yesterday in class. I am unable to get hold of a LTF. Would you still like to meet as planned? I really can't be asked. I am on holiday at the moment once I am back home I will only meet those friends who have had Omicron (several already and I am sure number is rising). Once the DCs catch it in school and I assume I will catch it off them I will resume socialising again when I am out of selfisolation as I'll be of no risk to anyone for at least 90 days. That's my plan anyway.

I find that I enjoy socialising much more than I enjoy the anticipation of it - not only do I get anxious about exposure and lack of experience socialising, there is no guarantee that plans will go ahead with constantly changing rules and isolation.