I'm new so I'm not even sure how relevant this is, but my mental health has taken a nosedive in recent months. I have ADHD and have finally been addressing that, but my bouts of depression and anxiety have become more frequent lately. Worse, I don't feel comfortable talking to the people around me about it because I feel like we've been living in completely different pandemics.
I live away from my family so, I've barely seen them all year and lost my job in March due to COVID, although started a new one in August. My close community in my area has been my church, which also included some of my closest friends that I've known most of my life. While I disagreed with many of those people politically, we had enough in common that there were shared interest and a connection. But, I feel guilty doing anything social right now, hanging out with them, or going to any event due to the pandemic. Most of that community is treating COVID like it's the flu and is spending time indoors without masks, acting like nothing has changed, and are being persecuted because of their religion. I feel like they shame me because I don't want to go to some Christmas party due to the virus, so I make up an excuse. This includes my best friends in the world who don't understand why I don't want to grab a beer because "the shutdown is overkill anyway."
My family, who I'm very close to, is at least a bit better in response to COVID, but they at least live near other family or with significant others to give them some kind of connection and community. I want to share this with them, but they've already shown concern over the recent ADHD issues and I don't think they'd understand why I feel so lonely and isolated.
I don't even know if there's a point here, maybe it's just me venting, but my feelings of anxiety and depression have been getting worse fast. I feel like my family doesn't understand and no longer want to spend time with my local community because I kind of now think they're all selfish and uncaring. With my mental health getting worse, I've never felt more isolated and alone, with little reason to think that will change in the near future.
Written by
MaroonHaze43
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Welcome Maroon Haze! I applaud you for caring enough about yourself and others to take COVID seriously. The end of the isolation nightmare is in sight. The vaccines are apparently for real. The pandemic as we have known it will have diminished. But in its wake will be an awareness of the mental and emotional toll it has leveled on so many of us. Are you in therapy? If not, are you able to start? With your symptoms getting worse you may find that extremely helpful. Stick to your guns. I know we don’t want to make this an “us vs. them” kind of thing, but you’ll find that there are many folks who share your views. Seek them out. You are not alone. Also, keep in mind that your feelings and concerns are never irrelevant here. We are so glad to have you aboard.....
Thanks! I've been trying to find a therapist for the last few weeks, but even with insurance it seems way harder than it should be. I signed up for BetterHelp and am going to start talking to a counselor there, so I'm trying to be active and find other tools now. Meditation is helping a little, but I'm realizing that I need to find anyone else in my area to talk to, whether they're struggling with similar issues or just have some of the same interests.
Love the way you’re being proactive. There are services that help pair potential clients with therapists who generally match what they are looking for. I’ve used one sponsored by Psychology Today (the magazine) successfully. From the “too funny to believe” department: One of the recommended therapists for me was my former wife! Though divorced we remain friends and we both had a good laugh about that. For many people such services can be really helpful in finding the right therapist. Please let us know how you are getting along....
I'll definitely look into those services because trying to find a therapist on my own has been frustrating at best. At this point it just feels like I want someone who will just listen to my symptoms and worries without judgement. Answers and tools are definitely important, but going without that trusted outlet to share my issues regarding depression and anxiety is only making things much worse. Finding that person to talk with seems like a huge step in the right direction.
I’m glad that you are taking this covid situation seriously and wish more would. Its a shame that a scientific issue has become twisted as a political issue or one that is based on perceived persecution.
I think your family would be understanding of your isolation and supportive - at least I hope they would be both.
Seems like I could have written this. Just add in the people who I had to unfollow on FB back in May because they were sharing some really "dark web/conspiricy" sounding stuff that I didn't understand (Like, "Trump is just biding his time until he starts arresting all these Democrats #save children" or the "covid tests are going to implant a chip in your brain" and the "they're going to force vacinations on us ... see here's absolute proof!" stuff), and then a few months later I became aware of QAnon and it suddenly clicks. I have become so disappointed in about 75% of my local friends group. I have this lack of respect for so many of them for sharing (and even falling for) this conspiracy theory stuff. I don't know how I build back my group of mama friends after I agree to start spending time with them again later this year when covid starts getting under control ...
I'm having those same worries, especially since I know these are also the people who will likely opt out of a vaccine even though it's pretty fundamental to getting things "back to normal" like they've been complaining about for months. For a lot of these people, especially my closest friends, I felt confident that they were still good people despite a difference of opinion on other things in the past. But their intense reactions to every COVID restriction, even with case numbers rising, have made me less sure of that. I'm sure that's hurt my anxiety and depression symptoms, not even feeling comfortable talking on the phone or setting up a zoom call because I just don't feel comfortable talking to them anymore and have just been putting my head down and trying to fight through these issues on my own. I'm trying to not even worry about those friendships right now and instead looking for new ones to get some kind of interaction until I'm fine going to public events months from now.
I could have written that!I am in that exact situation.Honestly, sounds like the Mennonites...The church leaders have expressed concern with how we are taking it.But we really should be taking it a lot more seriously.About the understanding part.Yeah.I wish I could learn to shut up because no one understands the crazy feelings I have that are so unexplainable except my therapist so!
I applaud you for staying authentic and compassionate. I had to get off ND. I am horrified at the amount of Qanon flavored opinions around here. This is a barely blue state too .I believe you can find a group in your area that provides peer support for people struggling. They are all over because the government isn’t helping. You can ask for help or give help or just connect.
Sending all of you loving kindness and compassion. Blessings, warmth and love. I am not living in your country but I was living in North America and had experienced being brainwashed by a superior who believed in alt right conspiracy theories etc. I got relapses from his presence in my life due to confusion and fear and intrusion of my safe zone. So, this kind of fear based environment and misinformation can cause a lot of damages.
Shield and guard your minds. Invest in positive inner qualities such as gratitude, faith, contentment, kindness, etc. We will move pass this awful phase together as global citizens.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
HELP I NEED CONNECTIONS
Husbands depression, adha, has ruined early Christmas with family
I'm new here, stressed about unemployment and issues with my anxiety/depression
