Covid burnout and isolation

[drcharlotterodricks]

Admins remove if not allowed. Does anyone feel like they are becoming distant? Every time some one suggests we meet, I come out with the most ridiculous of excuses, I just keep saying I'm busy when I'm actually not and I dont even care anymore...is it just me or are there others?

[VibrantFox]

i'm still living at home with fam so i'm lucky i can at least interact with them but in low points i'll usually try to connect with online folks even if it's just stream lurking or hoping into a random among us lobby

i really am sorry that your struggling tho and it's one of the reasons i worry how this pandemic is wearing on folks but if ever you wanna have small talks i'd be open to it. I know for a fact your not alone in feeling like you do and I don't think it's that abnormal to have moment where you want to reach out but because you feel mentally or emotionally drained you'll give reasons to not do stuff.

I'm not a professional or anything but all I can suggest is just to try and take things one step at a time. Starting with small stuff and then slowly working your way up till your comfortable and going at a pace that works for you. The pandemic has tired a lot of folks so never feel bad if you don't feel fully capable of doing something, just doing what you can is enough

[kmlangleyauthor]

You are definitely not alone. Even after craving socialization, I make up excuses to not spend time with people these days. It’s just a stress response for me and I’ve gone through it before in other situations. I’ll go through cycles where I’ll keep myself really busy and spend lots of time with people (less so with covid, but more video chats and such) and then a few days or weeks of mindlessly scrolling social media and barely answering texts. That’s the point I know that my brain is just trying - in its own weird way - to keep me “safe” because extended flight or flight really wears you down after a while.

[drcharlotterodricks]

That's the thing.Generally I'm very social be it online or offline and I enjoy networking an connecting but at this point I'm just struggling to keep it together

[migxmeg]

My close friend called me last week and I couldn't pick up the phone because I was feeling so down about this year. It comes and goes - usually I'm pretty upbeat. But is important to recognize that feeling shitty and not wanting to do things you might normally do is ok! This is a really bad year so go easy on yourself.

[sakebento]

Constantly. I'll promise myself that I'll text a friend "tomorrow," and when I finally get around to it, it's been a month. It's been killing my work, too. I've been sitting on finishing the last five chapters of season two of my novel since April. Even lost a patron for not replying to a valid question they had (they waited three weeks).

What I've come to realize, is that we're all carrying extra weight right now, so it's really hard to do even things we think are "normal" because we've already got a lot going on in our heads. Everything is high stress all the time, and that takes away energy whether we want it to or not. It is 100% not just you, and I think the best thing for all of us is to give ourselves permission to be tired.

[Kelheor]

relatable
I always have a husband to talk to, but other than him... I just don't even try to reach to someone, because I see no point. Nothing is happening that I can discuss with others and I don't see a point in small talk. I do feel bad because of it, but just... why.
I think it would actually be different if we meet in person though? But then, I still need to make myself do it, and not like I wish to go outside with 6000 people becoming sick in the city every day.
So... If you can go and meet in person, it's probably a good thing to do once in a while. Not even for them, but for yourself. I believe it will become better once you are in the company.
But overall yeah, I totally get you ._.

[drcharlotterodricks]

Thank you everyone. This thread made me feel a million times better, knowing I'm not alone.

[arbiterswake]

One thing I've done to ease isolation is do patron-only discord streams that allows me to work on my comic while still interacting with people and talking to them.. Without fear of spoiling the content for the general public.

It's a bit exclusive but it also gives those who subscribed to Paetreon something to look forward to and its definitely nice to talk to people while working on it.

[irresponsiblepics]

As I'm kind of an antisocial git. Being locked down is bliss for me.
Come February it will be one year since I went out in the big world.
Doesn't bother me at all....well...except not going to the sea this year.
This will be going on way into next year (experimental vaccine or otherwise) so I recommend getting used to it.
Adapt and survive.
In this day of "social media" and video calls...Its odd to me how people still feel isolated. Isn't that the point of facebook, Whatsthat? and all that?

But hey this is life right now...might as well make the best of it no?

[irresponsiblepics]

You need Shakubuku XD

[drcharlotterodricks]

What??!!!
Ah no, I'm one of those who relies on physical touch more than anything to express myself

[Legendofgenii]

Yes, I’m like that too. Anxiety I think. I always focus on what could happen that I am then scared to actually do what I planned to do.

I have a husband, a kid and two dogs, which is enough for me. Family lives the other side of the country and because of the virus I haven’t seen them since last Christmas.

[AmeGINGA]

I can only understand you, and I think people on this forum do too. I'm seen as social, having moved around a lot I have friends all over different places, but as I'm also a lonely person I've found myself lying and saying that I was busy, just to stay a little alone. .. The covid crisis isn't helping at all. Fortunately, technology makes us to keep in touch or talk to other people.

[DiegoPalacios]

I live with someone that is on the risk group, so i rarely hang out with others in person.

On the occasion i hang out with others, i make sure they were careful, keep distance and wear masks.....

But now, most socializing i do it online......

[sushy00]

I can relate... Sometimes I miss connecting with people, but when an opportunity arises, I am like NOPE

[ble]

I was already antisocial before covid, so idk how much it changed me, but I do feel less energy or more tired this year.

[drcharlotterodricks]

Everyone who took the time to reply to this thread, thank you.You truly are wonderful and I hope you have a good day/night .