Anxiety and loneliness is worse

[Shutterbug65]

Anyone feeling more alone, isolated and anxious. I know my anxiety has been much worse lately especially in the morning. I wake up and all I think about is how much worse did things get? It feels like everything that I took for granted is gone and I’m having a very tough time adjusting to this new 'normal'. And the prospect of self isolation scares me to death. And the constant negative news is just unrelenting. I miss the days when we only got our news at 6:00pm and 11:00 pm and the occasional breaking news in between. Everything is just so hyped up and it’s scary.

Does anyone else feel this way? Is anyone feeling lonely?

[LilyAnnepuppy]

Yes about the new normal. There is no normal yet. Every day it's something new. And change is scary in itself. Rolling with the punches is not my best trick, but I'm certainly getting practice at it.

Hang in there. You're not alone. We're all in this together. Maybe after all this is over, my agoraphobia will lighten a little and I'll want to leave the house - because I can!

[Shutterbug65 in reply to LilyAnnepuppy]

Thank you. I feel like I’m alone. I have to work and it scares me that we may eventually have to shelter in place. And I have my elderly aunt who lives with me so I worry about her. Also I don’t have a support network of friends and family near by if, god forbid, I need help because I’m sick and can’t get out to the grocery store. I’m all alone and I only have myself to count on.

So lots of worries, and for me everything is a impending disaster. Hopefully in 6 months this will be a memory, a bad memory, but a memory none the less.

[KittenMittens22 in reply to Shutterbug65]

Do you not have a neighbor or coworker you could ask for help if it ever got to that point? In this time I’m sure people would be more opened to help if you asked. Maybe just say “hey I don’t have a whole lot of support, would it be okay if I call if I really need something or have an emergency?”

I’m not sure where you live but there are so many companies and organizations that deliver food/groceries/meds.

[Shutterbug65 in reply to KittenMittens22]

Thanks. None of my co workers live near me. And I hardly ever see my neighbors, except for one. It’s not like it used to be when everybody knew there neighbors and were friendly. Occasionally I talk to one neighbor across the street. I just feel unsettled, feeling that at any moment things are going to get much worse.

So right now I’m just thankful my job is still open. I don’t have the option to work from home.

Thank you again for your advice. And be safe

[Spoonish6]

Yes I’m feeling the same way. Especially in the morning. I’m used to seeing my friends almost everyday and now I’m stuck inside praying for this all to be over. The media makes everything seem worse than what it is I believe. We have to keep hope. Hope that this will pass sooner than later. While everything is cancelled. Hope is not.

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Spoonish6]

Thanks. Your right, hope is not canceled. It’s just unnerving to hear all this bad news, closings and cancellations. At least at work I can stay busy and I have my coworkers to talk to. If I had to stay home I don’t know what I would do. I have to work to get paid, no other option for me.

[Hidden]

Adjustments in routine, adjustments to daily structure are definitely going to take its toll, more so on others.

I’m looking at this from the perspective of it’s temporary. I will adjust my attitude if significant information is released to alter my thinking. But for now this isn’t going to be forever. Technology today allows us to connect each in ways not available many many years ago.

For now I just feel safer being at home right now anyways, but this is me. I’ve got a home that could use a little extra attention, repainting some doors, power washing, stuff like that you put off.

We are all in the same set of circumstances in one capacity or another, just need to keep supporting as if it just another day in the life.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

That's the thing isn't it this won't last forever.

No one likes to be disrupted as it shatters your sense of safety in the world.

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Hidden]

I just hate the idea of being stuck at home, quarantined or whatever. Even during a snow storm (none this year) I manage to get out somewhere. I know my little house could use some TLC but I find it hard to focus. But I do get my chores done. I guess the secret is to remain busy and on that end at least I still have my job to go to. I wish I could focus on my blessings and stop with this negativity.

And your right "it’s just another day in the life". And life will go on. Maybe I should just keep repeating that.

Take care. And thanks for your reply.

[Hidden]

I remember the old days when the news was on a few times a day as well!

I got myself in a state on Monday but I'm OK now.

What I found helpful was limiting time with the news and this morning the sun were being stupid and I was like shut up you idiots and walked away!

[Shutterbug65 in reply to Hidden]

You are absolutely right. At 6:00 we watched the news and that was it. Or you listened on the radio. Occasionally you had the special news bulletins when something big happened. There’s something to be said about knowing to much and knowing what’s really fact.

Thank you for your reply. I’ll try to listen to my own words and limit the noise.

[hypercat54]

Yes I am feeling lonely as some of my social outlets have been cancelled. You are not alone. x

[crowningglory19]

Many are feeling all those things esp with the world on hold and in "crisis".

Turn off the news, and distract your mind with either a good book, audio or movie/tv show.

The news main goal is to keep you watching, to make money so they hype everything up.

Reach out to those you haven't for a while, see how they are, maybe help them or volunteer

to help others, and you will feel fulfilled too. Also, magnesium and ginseng are great to

calm the mind body and spirit and get rid of sticky negative thoughts that loop.

When we are stressed, they are depleted and we need them more, so extra is good.

Best to you, dear. =)

[Shutterbug65 in reply to crowningglory19]

We’re can I get magnesium and ginseng? And that you for your reply. And you are absolutely right. The news media super hyped up over this. I was talking to someone yesterday, he’s about the same age as me (mid fifties) and we agreed if this happened 30 years ago we wouldn’t even know about it now. It would be considered a bad flu season and a year later we’d be told it was actually a type of virus and not the flu. And life would go on. It’s just this constant bombardment of news over and over again that has people in a panic, it’s not good. Not least of which what it’s doing to our economy.