How are you handling anxiety in this time of COVID-19?

@tnmama, I'm glad to meet you, neighbor. I'm SW of Lexington and we come near Knoxville every year on our way to the Smokeys for hiking. I absolutely love the blooming redbud trees and pink and white dogwoods when they are in bloom. It ought to be about tome for them!
I read that you homeschool your children. With all of our parents suddenly facing the kiddos at home, I bet you have some self-learned expert ideas that would be most welcome for those who are 'losing their sanity' right now. Here is a discussion that I want to share with you. > How to Keep Kids Occupied & and Your Sanity during Self Quarantine
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-keep-kids-occupied-and-your-sanity-during-self-quarantine/
Click on the blue link and you will be able to read and post.

Just a peaceful puzzle I worked

So here goes...
Isolation has been a large part of my life as with most of us suffering from depression, but just a few weeks prior had started to really change my life so much so that had a date. Dating is challenging enough but when one is mid 60's even more so with fewer opportunities. It was enjoyable, dancing, and then COVID 19 hits, social distancing puts a wrench into any relationship becomes the normal for now and isolation becomes a reality again which is not a good combination for me. The gentleman I was seeing want to quarantine together, but that scared me. He took it personally, and how could one not do so but did try to explain. My so-called family and I have been somewhat estranged so that's not an avenue for communication or understanding. Have limited budget, limited data and not that tech savvy.

Not sure what I'm looking for in this post but maybe some kind understanding and words of hope. Thank you for listening/reading. Please keep safe.

So here goes...
Isolation has been a large part of my life as with most of us suffering from depression, but just a few weeks prior had started to really change my life so much so that had a date. Dating is challenging enough but when one is mid 60's even more so with fewer opportunities. It was enjoyable, dancing, and then COVID 19 hits, social distancing puts a wrench into any relationship becomes the normal for now and isolation becomes a reality again which is not a good combination for me. The gentleman I was seeing want to quarantine together, but that scared me. He took it personally, and how could one not do so but did try to explain. My so-called family and I have been somewhat estranged so that's not an avenue for communication or understanding. Have limited budget, limited data and not that tech savvy.

Not sure what I'm looking for in this post but maybe some kind understanding and words of hope. Thank you for listening/reading. Please keep safe.

Hi @marjou, I'm so glad you posted about dating, relationships and social distancing, isolation and anxiety during this time of COVID-19. You'll notice that I moved your message to this exisiting discussion called "How are you handling anxiety in this time of COVID-19?" https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anxiety-7/

I did this so that you can meet others talking about depression, anxiety and isolation and how COVID-19 affects us all, especially those who have long been familiar with depression and anxiety. Here's you'll meet members like @guener @tnmama @nannyned @ellen307 @ehw0421 @sheffieldsmith @charlie1953 @lewisma9 @georgette12 @suerc @eric65 and others.

You might also be interested in this discussion:
- Isolation: How Do We Handle it? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/isolation-how-do-we-handle-it/

Marjou, it sounds like you are comfortable with you decision to not self-quarantine with a man you just recently met. It is hard to be alone, but being together 24/7 with someone you don't know yet would be a rough start and perhaps not even safe. However, being alone is tough too. Have you been using online dating to meet people? I wonder how online dating apps and websites are adapting to this new reality?

@marjou This is a good time for you to plan along with your gentleman friend, things to do once the isolation ban has been lifted! Think of places you like to go and activities to do together. This is an excellent time for discovering what makes each of you tick, and you might find that down the road this was very instrumental in your relationship as it goes forward. Ask questions, answer questions, and find out who this person really is. Perhaps you have the technology to do face-to-face talks like Skype or FaceTime. Call each other everyday or every other day just to check in and see how each other is doing. Write silly notes back and forth. If he is the right person to be in your life, he will understand.
Ginger

I’ve been focusing on the things I CAN CONTROL in my life that are beneficial. Making your health a priority by reaching for fruits and vegetables, taking vitamin and mineral supplements, controlling excessive sugar intake, taking a nice walk once or twice a day (boost those endorphins!), doing yoga poses outside or in a quiet space, meditation, and baking healthy breads and snacks for you and yours. Merely keeping a GRATITUDE JOURNAL for recording your daily affirmations of what is good and appreciated in your life really helps to CALM and REWIRE an anxious brain....AND IT REALLY WORKS, WITH LASTING EFFECTS! My go to for more anxious moments that might overwhelm me is 4 droplets of an herbal tincture called BACH STRESS RELIEF (Amazon). It comes in a slim three bottles pack, and one bottle has already lasted 4 months. (Amazon). I keep one on your nightstand, in your pocket, or in your handbag for those anxious times. Find your calm by doing some or all of these! Love and peace to all! We’ll get through this day by day!