Hi,@cb772, The pandemic has created so many changes in our daily lives that what we would ordinarily do can sometimes become more difficult. I self quarantine and only go for some medical/dental appointments and grocery shopping every few weeks to a store that has a protected hour for seniors or those with more chronic health conditions.
For those of us who tend to be anxious under the best of times, changes that are taking place now can add to what I call "overload".
I find taking breaks from any media news helps and taking walks and spending more time on hobbies takes my mind off of what is troubling and puts the focus on the diversion.
I have lived alone for years and my only daughter and family live out-of-state. We stay in touch by phone and occasional Zoom times. It is not the same as being with them but it helps a great deal. Are you and your sister close? Do you talk frequently? Do you have friends or neighbors that you feel close enough to to talk about how life is going for you now?
I don't know your situation, medical limitations or how much you are able to connect with others but taking "virtual visits" on internet sites to beautiful parks, museums and places of interest have become a new occasional pastime for me. Do you have pastimes or hobbies or interests that you can devote more time to?
@dmho, From personal experience, I know physical distance from our loved ones makes efforts to help our family harder too. I'm wondering if both you and @cb772 might find more suggestions for help if you both also post on the Just Want to Talk Thread that is a part of the COVID-19 forum. Just having another place to share and connect with other understanding members has helped me and provided new ideas for approaching some issues.
Wishing you both the best and hope you will continue to post. Staying connected through the forums here has been a great boon for me.
Hi, fiesty76: thank you for your response & for sharing your experiences. I have stepped back from news & watching political ads. I usually get my news from Stephen Colbert & Facebook. I'll take breaks from Facebook every so often. I am disabled in that my mobility is severely limited. I rarely leave my house. I wish I could go for walks or had an electric wheelchair so I could use it to walk my dogs. My hobbies are my 3 dogs, 1 cat, bearded dragon & Solcata tortoise, reading & watching TV. I do have some good friends here but we don't talk much. I'm ready to go home when the good Lord wants me. I'm tired of the stress of the election, feeling alone, feeling anxious about money, trying to find specialists who are near me or do telemed appts., frustrated with Medicate & Medicaid who keep denying me an electric or manual wheelchair. I'm tired of just existing & not living.