Before and After Covid 19

I was isolated before Covid 19. I was trying very hard to get out of social isolation and had a big plan for 2020.

So I would say my situation before Covid 19 was bad. I was sick, not working, and isolated.

Now I am in crisis because I needed the social isolation to end...not for the whole world to go on lock down. In truth it is my absolute worst nightmare.

After Covid 19 I need a new lifestyle. I was trying to depend on friends and family to help and they did nothing for me in 2019 even though I kept calling them.

I guess now I will start to try to access all resources...in the public and private sector. Because I cannot live socially isolated. It is having a very bad effect on my mental health.

I'm having a hard time too. I am working but am not allowed to go into the office or to go anywhere. I'm trying to hang onto my sanity.

By the time I am ready to go to sleep at night I am mentally worn out. I love sleep. I always sleep deeply and it is very restful. But when I wake up...and realize the Covid 19 world is still reality...it automatically bums me out. It reminds me of the feeling when someone close dies. When you wake up for one second you forget they are dead...then you remember. When I wake up and realize people all over the world are still dying from Covid 19 it just sets me to grieving...plus my own world feels destroyed. Then I turn on the radio and make coffee.

Me too. I didnt swim last year. Now i wonder if the pool will even open this year. You dont know what youve got til its gone.

Youre not alone in being alone, not that thats any consolation. But it is keeping us safe and giving us a chance.

There are a lot of people here on pc who are writing in saying, uh, this is not too different from my usual life anyway. You might try to find us and see what we are doing to cope. Or just how we are managing day to day. For me, connecting to different people here helps. Different people have different strengths, different views, different challenges, different resources, different responsibilities.

Thanks. I have been socially isolated for a few years. This week I called a crisis hotline and the counselor said, "Well, you are an expert at social isolation. You know how to do it." Well...no. I went out a lot...to the library, movies, coffee, shopping, swimming, church, bookstores, lectures, and to the planetarium. I was planning to expand in 2020 not contract.

The point is...I have learned to cope with social isolation...but I hate it.


I don't want to learn how to cope with social isolation. I think it is very detrimental. What is hard is breaking out of social isolation. I have even had therapists tell me they couldn't help me do it. So I don't want to know how to do social isolation better. I don't want this. It's cruel. It's crappy. And it is freaking boring. After Covid 19 I need to change my life.

Would it help to remind yourself this will not last forever? It sure feels neverending, but there will be an end. Would it help to plan what to do when the pandemic is over to break social isolation?

YES! YES! YES! I did have a plan for 2020. It was all about getting a part-time job and working up to more hours then to three-quarters time. Freelancing. Saving money. Then planning a big move. I had also called gyms and recreations centers to see about personal training...which I got free in some instances with Silver Sneakers. I had a big plan. To work out with a personal trainer. To get out. And make a lot of connections.

Now with Covid 19 it feels a lot more difficult. There is going to be a lot more competition for resources. I might need to freelance more but even there...more competition. I am not very competitive and it is problematic.

I can't see going to the gym after Covid 19 as I will be pretty scared. They really don't know if Covid 19 will linger, or resurge.

But I need to go back to the drawing board and make a new plan. THAT should keep me busy.

Good idea to make plans. Something to look forward to. It will be over.

I live next door to a huge gym, major chain. I barely go unless it’s a summer break, I am quite lazy. I pay membership but that’s about it. But now it’s been closed and I wish I can go to gym. Pool and stuff.

I wonder if corona will teach us to appreciate what we have more. No idea. Maybe I’ll bd just as lazy when it opens or maybe I’ll get my butt in gear. Time will tell

There is going to be a new normal. I let my support network fall away and I didn't replace it with something new and now I am paying the price. However, I am pretty active online...and that may be the new normal for many people...that is, finding resources through Internet networking.


I heard that Covid 19 won't live in the pool...but could live on everything around the pool...which is sad because I love swimming but not the idea of Covid 19 lurking around...

Did you see the guy who ran a marathon on his balcony? Back and forth, back and forth, for idk 4, 5, 6 hours? I think my neighbors would shoot me! But it might be nice to exercise on my balcony.

Hahah no I didn’t. we live on the ground floor and we have a patio and access outside from the living room so theoretically I can do it lol but it’s too cold out. I think this weather contributes to me being irritated. 40 degrees is no good for me. I have a heat on right now.

Yesterday and today has been nice here, 50's yesterday and 48 today. We live in the suburbs so there's. Some land. Yesterday there was lots of people out walking with and without dogs. A couple of years ago the then preteen was out every day skating, she was back out yesterday. Three teens from another house put up hammocks on the island. Even though we don't contact anyone all this activity makes us feel apart of the neighborhood. Normally you barely see anyone outside.

For me life is barely different. I now set an alarm to go grocery shopping at 7am when they have the senior hour. And I only go out once every two weeks instead of when we want something.

My life is very different than what I normally do. But it could be worse. We could be sick. We could have no food. Or no utilities. Or no income etc It could be always worse

Exactly. Water and electricity are down SO OFTEN in my apartment. I am so grateful to have them. And heat.

I spent 95% of my time in coffeeshops, libraries, or restaurants...so ....I am completely lost, now that everything has shut down...like my entire life just got 'turned off...' by a mean enemy or something...plus, I'm a teacher in an after-school program, which shut down. I miss the children I cared for everyday! I miss them really, really badly........

I want to go back to my church. I stopped going in 2019 because I was sick for seven months. I had severe coughing and couldn't go anywhere in public like movies or church because I had coughing fits. Just when steroids started to help me Covid 19 came along. Lent and Easter are my favorite seasons at church and I miss the congregation. The church staff called me today just to check in and when the staff person realized I was upset she read me a prayer and spoke with me a long time. She called me back later to see if I wanted the pastor to call me. I felt cared for. I just want to be able to freely go to church.

After Covid 19 I think I will be less dependent on mindless activities...such as, going to Target because I'm bored, browsing in bookshops and antique shops, and going to (senior discounted) movies. I will probably spend more time outdoors which is free and healthy. I think generally I will be less oriented towards consumption and more oriented towards nature.

In 2020 I started dieting so stopped going out to eat and stopped buying take-out. I also stopped buying coffee out because I make better coffee at home.


I felt I was ordering too much from Amazon in 2019 and already vowed to stop in 2020. It is hard because I am sort of addicted to Amazon but now I am severely short on cash. I ordered dry goods (groceries) from Amazon and they were too expensive. I will probably (next week) start picking up boxes from a local food pantry free for seniors, as I am now strapped for cash. I paid my rent but really money is very tight now.

Today I heard on the radio that social distance is going to be turned on and off in the future...as there may be new viral surges. It is very hard to be socially distant. When I go out I usually talk to everyone...and strangers often strike up conversations with me. A couple times a week I would go to my satellite library and talk with the librarians. But I think social distancing will be the "new normal." It's sad. But I was already kind of germaphobic...and I am high risk so absolutely do not want to get any strain of coronavirus that comes down the pike.


What do others think will be the "new normal"?