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Isolation: How Do We Handle it?

Posted by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250, Mar 16, 2020

As boundaries are being mandated in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, these boundaries are affecting every area of our lives. Many hospitals, assisted living facilities, places of worship, libraries, restaurants, community centers are being closed to visitors and public gatherings. For many of us, these keep us from our typical ways of connecting with others and engaging with a supportive community.

What are you doing to keep yourself connected?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Apr 16, 2020
In reply to @becsbuddy "@fiesty76 Venturing out after being isolated for a long time makes me think of the time..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@fiesty76 Venturing out after being isolated for a long time makes me think of the time when I went from a high school of less than 200 to one of more than 2000! It was overwhelming especially when I went to my first pep rally. I just wanted to shrink up and go back to my nice, small school. Think of going to a football game when you’ve been isolated! No thanks!

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@becsbuddy, Really good analogy about going from school of less than 200 to one of more than 2000. Like you, I will probably be snail slow in venturing out any time soon with confidence.

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Apr 16, 2020
In reply to @sueinmn "@feisty76 I am not happy in isolation, but wonder too what NEW normal will be like...." + (show)
@sueinmn

@feisty76 I am not happy in isolation, but wonder too what NEW normal will be like. I have chronic lung issues and a husband with the same, plus diabetes - and while we consider ourselves young, we fall into the risky years. I belong to a number of volunteer organizations, and usually spend many hours a week out in the community - but I don't foresee that happening this summer - and maybe not for a year or more. So as we ponder our future activities, I am obliged to tell people that I will not be part of any large group gatherings, or face to face interactions with the general public, until there is a vaccine. It actually makes me cry as I write that - but there it is - I need to survive to see my grandchildren grow up.
In the meantime, I try to stay busy in my "cocoon" - for now my small community, in a few weeks my up north home and garden, and hope it will be safe to hug my family soon.
Sue

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@sue, We share the "volunteering bug" in common and, like you, and it has been painful to suspend those inperson activities. However, my continued zest for life in general has me curtailing future commitments in the hope that I can spend more quality years with my little family. Like your idea of a cocoon. No sharp edges, soft and comfy and hopefully we'll emerge able to fly rather than crawl going forward.

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wisco50 | @wisco50 | Apr 16, 2020
In reply to @sueinmn "@feisty76 I am not happy in isolation, but wonder too what NEW normal will be like...." + (show)
@sueinmn

@feisty76 I am not happy in isolation, but wonder too what NEW normal will be like. I have chronic lung issues and a husband with the same, plus diabetes - and while we consider ourselves young, we fall into the risky years. I belong to a number of volunteer organizations, and usually spend many hours a week out in the community - but I don't foresee that happening this summer - and maybe not for a year or more. So as we ponder our future activities, I am obliged to tell people that I will not be part of any large group gatherings, or face to face interactions with the general public, until there is a vaccine. It actually makes me cry as I write that - but there it is - I need to survive to see my grandchildren grow up.
In the meantime, I try to stay busy in my "cocoon" - for now my small community, in a few weeks my up north home and garden, and hope it will be safe to hug my family soon.
Sue

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I normally volunteer two different mornings a week at my local animal shelter and wildlife rehab center. Right now no volunteers have been allowed there since mix March. No idea when that will happen. I really miss helping out and now it’s baby season for wildlife also...sad.

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1 reply
Bob, Alumni Mentor | @grandpabob | Apr 16, 2020
In reply to @wisco50 "I normally volunteer two different mornings a week at my local animal shelter and wildlife rehab..." + (show)
@wisco50

I normally volunteer two different mornings a week at my local animal shelter and wildlife rehab center. Right now no volunteers have been allowed there since mix March. No idea when that will happen. I really miss helping out and now it’s baby season for wildlife also...sad.

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@wisco50 - It certainly is tough not being able to do all the things we are accustomed to in these times.

I hope you can take some solace in knowing that the precautions being taken now, will help get us back to where we were, or close to it - sooner, rather than later.

What are you doing to help keep busy in your day?

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1 reply
fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Apr 16, 2020

@wisco, You and I share two favorite volunteer activities. I miss the time spent volunteering as well but the risk is too high for me to do that now. If we just keep staying in, life will get better, sooner, yes?

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1 reply
Ellen | @helenfrances | Apr 16, 2020
In reply to @shortshot80 "Nancy/Shortshot... I am 97 yearsold. I grand you that isolation is not fun, but i go..." + (show)
@shortshot80

Nancy/Shortshot... I am 97 yearsold. I grand you that isolation is not fun, but i go busy and dwrote a book which was to be a woman commercial fishing with her husband, then my husband of 67 years died and my friend told me I needed closure for my husband, will maybe I need to have a beginning for him. So this book is complete autobiography for my family. I is now being printed on Amazon. It is called "Shortshot. Has a picture of our boat. I am glad I had the time... Nancy

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Beautiful! You memorialized your husband with a written tribute to him which can be shared by your family and beyond. I will look for your book Short Shot on Amazon.
Peace.

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wisco50 | @wisco50 | Apr 17, 2020
In reply to @fiesty76 "@wisco, You and I share two favorite volunteer activities. I miss the time spent volunteering as..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@wisco, You and I share two favorite volunteer activities. I miss the time spent volunteering as well but the risk is too high for me to do that now. If we just keep staying in, life will get better, sooner, yes?

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I certainly hope so! Our state of WI has extended stay at home through May, so...

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 17, 2020
In reply to @shortshot80 "shortshot Nancy.........CORRECTION..... Wow I am 87, NOT 97. I don't think I will make it to..." + (show)
@shortshot80

shortshot Nancy.........CORRECTION..... Wow I am 87, NOT 97. I don't think I will make it to 97 , I have two kinds of LLUNG cancer.
one is Mesothelioma and the other is small cell cancer. I have had all the radiation and chemo's that I can have. SO the good LORD is in charge of what happens from not on. I Praise him for letting me be still here! Nancy

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How wonderful that you could write a book about your family. You have a desire for productivity and gratitude. I too am grateful that you are still here, @shortshot80!

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1 reply
wisco50 | @wisco50 | Apr 17, 2020
In reply to @grandpabob "@wisco50 - It certainly is tough not being able to do all the things we are..." + (show)
@grandpabob

@wisco50 - It certainly is tough not being able to do all the things we are accustomed to in these times.

I hope you can take some solace in knowing that the precautions being taken now, will help get us back to where we were, or close to it - sooner, rather than later.

What are you doing to help keep busy in your day?

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I have been WAY too lazy on cold/rainy/snowy days. That ends tomorrow! Weather improvement! Garden, here I come!

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1 reply
ellen307 | @ellen307 | Apr 18, 2020

Have been doing a lot of sewing to help pass my dsy. Making blankets, quilts n mask still get nervous then pick n eat

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