Same problem for me, with MDD depression, isolating is about the worst thing I can do for my mood! Awful. I have - some days - to force myself to get outside and walk and go places. Then, I feel better. While we're having a snow storm today, Spring is here and, yes, that makes it, for me, a lot easier to go outside for a long walk and plan to join Planet Fitness. Def lifts my, not hibernating. Thanks.

Why do we isolate, when we know what's the worst thing for us? Why does everything seem so hard? Yesterday was the first day of spring, but it's still pretty darn cold here. But I can feel it in me... Can't wait to start gardening and taking walks. I feel it coming.

I wish I had your enthusiasm and vigor but I'm in a state of depression. Seems like change of seasons take a toll on me.

I am 64 and have both MCI and Depression and although I feel okay everything just seems way harder. Some days I just can’t get out of my own way. I need to realize that I can’t keep the same pace up as I used too. I now need calm, focus, minus the multitasking. Easier said than done. I need to give myself a break and lower my expectations, not of what I do but of how many things I take on. In a way it is forcing me to slow down which in the long run is probably a healthier way fo me to live.

I've been there. At the point nothing could entice me to get out of bed. But finally the right medications and therapy had been working 4 several years. But I still have low-grade depression and severe anxiety. There was a time with the depression I didn't think I would ever feel better. I know it's a dark lonely place. But it can get better. And I hope it does for you. I always have to be working on it and be on guard with preventing every lap so to speak. Keep talking the best thing to do.

@mscosette

I could have written the same words. It is truly a dark, lonely place.

Jim

@mscosette I think we isolate because we are not accepting of ourselves. We want to see the stigma erased from mental health disease, but we can't quite seem to get over that hump ourselves. Yes, we tell ourselves that it as real as my diabetes, pancreatitis, RA, Fibro, etc..., but we can't get that drilled into our subconscious. I also know that for me there is a fear of large groups as I am not always comfortable with what my behavior may be or more precisely, what I may say. Does that resonate with anyone?

I definitely agree it's a complicated situation. Has nothing to do with being lazy or anything like that. I have an extremely hard time making small talk. Hate it. And I avoid large social get-togethers like the plague.
I'm not concerned about what my behavior would look like. But there was a time that I would have as I had such a hard time controlling my emotions and anxiety.
Now I kind of know what it would look like same meeting a new person, small talk and I don't like the way it looks or feels. But I'm so tired of being lonely as well.

@mscosette Your thoughts are very insightful. It can be a vicious negative cycle or one that almost feels virtuous when you fight it off even for a day. It is so easy to let the fog envelope you and become dark clouds as opposed to wispy fog. But, if you push it away in thought or activity for any amount of time, it is definitely a small victory. As one of my better bosses always said, you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.

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