Lived Experience Forum

[Codex1]

I'm about to get coffee and breakfast. How does everybody deal with social isolation due to this pandemic? Also, please sit with coffee, tea, or any other beverage of your choosing, or snack oráHenryX@nd please chitchat away. Of course I have some ofline supports but when they're not available I need the Internet. This pandemic has up-ended my life in more ways than one.

I have so many activities I could be doing, but the pandemic has stopped those. The list is long and exhaustive. It's great to reduce the spread of this virus. But at what cost? I've had people offline, tell me to stop mixing with people. But I can't entirely isolate away from people. Some comments are so judgy and hurtful. At the end of the day I need a social life but can't have one. Social distancing is making me feel more isolated. This time of uncertainty isn't "temporary". It's still happening. I can't wait till the Government relaxes health policies so we can have our old freedoms back.

@Jynx@Emelia8@MDT@Clawde@Zoe7@Eve7@Sophia1 @greenpea @cloudcore @frog @Snowie @Peregrinefalcon @Everan @Sphinxly @Judi9877 @Dimity @Bow @BlueBay @LostAngel @Appleblossom @LookingHopeful @Faith-andHope @JoeTheLion @HenryX @Daisydreamer @outlander @Sans911 @BPDSurvivor @oceangirl @RedHorse @cara_Yellow @Rosemary4 and anybody else. How's the coping going? Anything to let off your chest? Any suggestions known to mankind to deal with this stifling Covid-19 drama? This pandemic has gone on for too long! My rant is over and with that I feel better enough to start my day.

[Carlo]

The pandemic and related lockdowns/anxiety have caused much isolation @Codex1 

I am fortunate that I'm approaching the twilight of my professional career.  But I worry about younger people and particularly those living alone.  For them, the isolation would be extra-ordinarily difficult.

Much of this is not discussed by the political leaders making decisions on how to manage this pandemic.

We need more support!  They need more support.

Let's be grateful for the gift of a coffee and a moment to reflect.

[periwinklepixie]

I feel you @Codex1 about the judgemental comments people make. 

I think sometimes people get so concerned about following the rules that they forget we are all human beings with a need and desire to connect. And the uncertainty around this all makes it so incredibly difficult. 

Something I've done to help with socialising is virtual movie nights with friends! We all grab our snacks and hit play on the same movie on netflix at the same time, and then message on Facebook about it. 😛 

The pandemic has definitley forced me to get creative with my social life because it really seems like it is that or like you said, become more isolated. 

Keen to hear others ideas! 
- periwinklepixie 

[Codex1]

@Carlo and @periwinklepixie these are good points you've raised here! In the meantime I've also had a lot of questions answered today. FINALLY!!!!!! 😌😇🤣😂 This has been a massively long time coming for me. And thanks for your support here. I'm going to keep this thread open. I am finally going to get an NDIS support coordinator which will likely take a few months to sort out. But I'm in contact with this organisation now. Next I have to prove to my doctors why I need to keep my mental health program, as most professionals like people to be responsible for their own health with minimal medication use. Well, I know what I'm like and I don't want to go three steps backwards now that I'm getting healthier and stronger. I can't just chop and change all the time lol, it never ends well.
Even if life does go pear-shaped for me again, I've enlisted about six different types of offline support mostly by phone and email at this point, but at least I can reach out to someone day and night now. I can't just be left alone when I'm not coping or very unwell. Now I can finally relax a little. I also had to sort out a bungle with online grocery shopping, but it's done now. I'll worry about grocery shopping next week when I actually need food by then. Today I just want to bask in some short-lived but enjoyable peace. I still have a ways to go with adjusting to my new medical program, but thinking straight and writing with some sanity and intelligence is a good start yiipppeee! For HEAVEN's sake haha, no more breakdowns please!
Ok, @pepiwinklepixie, I never thought of the virtual movie nights thing. Wow this is all starting to make sense for me now. Yaaaaaaay! Well, I'll be dealing with another phone call soon and then I'm going to put Netflix on for a while, imagining that you all are with me watching a show.

[HenryX]

Hello @Codex1 , @Carlo , @periwinklepixie 

and other members visiting this thread

Great thread title and topic @Codex1 . I do believe that the thread may also be of interest to people who, while they may also be isolated because of covid, may be isolated for other reasons.

What I like here is that the thread has begun with some positive suggestions about dealing with isolation, not just commiserating with each other about the reasons for and application of sanctions.

In my situation, covid has had little affect on the community activity. I live in the Mid-West Region of WA. It is very sparsely populated. I live in a small country town, where the main influx of people, from other locations, occurs during the wildflower season, covering a period of about three months, from August to October.

The main issue that I face is the lack of desire, or even a distinct feeling of resistance to going out and engaging in social activity. I am fortunate that I join a small singing group twice a week, a church gathering with lunch each week and being a country town, even shopping is a social activity. So, through these activities I have maintained some social connection

A lot of my time, over the past 12 months, has been occupied in correspondence with other members of and involvement in this forum community. I feel reluctant to go outside. It is unlikely to be a social phobia, but rather a contraction, partly due to physical limitations and partly, psychological and grief, after the loss of my Mum about 2 1/2 years ago. I don't think that these factors really have affected me more because I am older, but rather that there are no longer evident, around me, the social and other pressures that would be likely to motivate a younger person to move forward.

As a result of ongoing discussions with a counsellor, my correspondence, interactions and involvement here on the forum, and the support of a few people in the community, I am gradually beginning to feel motivated to actually going out and being more engaged with the 'world' outside my home. And simply being "out there".

What is apparent, to me, is that my involvement in this online community has been challenging, uplifting, rewarding, frustrating, enjoyable, pleasant, self-developmental and expanding, through mental challenges and intellectual stimulation and much more.

I hope that these thoughts may be supportive and encouraging to others.

Thank you also @Codex1 for your interest in and review of material on various threads and for your acknowledgements by "support", of many of my posts. Very much appreciated.

with Best wishes

@HenryX 

[MDT]

hi @Codex1
Can I just say how happy i am to read this post. I completely agree
All of this covid stuff has neutralised human contact.
In terms of letting things off my chest I am really sick of hearing about this pandemic. I get its a pandemic. But there must be a balance and being too safe with this stuff comes at a cost. I am vaxxed 3 times. I am healthy. I am not worried and if I do get then well so be it. I'll deal with it as I need to.

Another vent - the media are pathetic. They ramp it up and make it worse than it is. I think everyone knows this, but they are too shy to say it.

This isolation is nonsense - even with paid work I feel bored. But this says more about my job I think - most of the job social element comes from in person work and seeing as they are being too safe there is absolutely no social atmosphere with work.

I am hearing you my friend and I too feel better

[MDT]

yes @Carlo
i agree and thank you for your support

[MDT]

I have found it hard to be social anyway as many of friends have either moved on or i have lost contact with.

It isn't a nice feeling

[RedHorse]

Hello @Codex1 🙋

Thanks for tagging me. I'm too late for the breakfast party but I've gained some much needed perspective from reading your post and the replies.

I'm glad to hear you've had some answers to your questions today.

Living in the bush (as I do) brings its own sense of isolation, a possibility mentioned by @HenryX .

This combined with the current social restrictions means that I'm lucky to get an hour or so of in person interaction per month during my visits to town for essential supplies. I always try to engage positively with everyone I do meet, but sometimes get the feeling they just want me to complete my purchase and move on.

Like @MDT I too have lost contact with friends. This is partly due to an intermittent mobile phone signal, my being depressed and withdrawn and partly due to natural processes over time (I think). Whatever the reason it isn't a nice feeling.

That said, I do have a beautiful daughter in another state with whom I stay in touch and this forum provides me with the opportunity to connect with, be supported by, and to support others.

The challenge for me is to stay well and focused enough to participate effectively in the forum and life. As this post proves I am currently winning the battle.

Take care, RedHorse 🌹🐴

[MDT]

Hey @RedHorse
Take care of yourself. Thanks for sharing as well 🙂