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

Thanks for your response. This gentleman doesn't seem to take this coronavirus reality as seriously as I do so and tried to communicate my fear. So sad.

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?

Stick with your own intuition! You haven't known him long enough to have built up the trust you would need to "live" with him,

@marjou... Now is not the time to make any decisions you are not 100% comfortable with. I met a gentleman almost 10 years ago, my friends always question why we weren't married or even live together but we're just happy with the way we are. We are not self quarantined together, we text and talk on the phone. I agree that I get lonely and even depressed sometimes and I have to remind myself there are many out there feeling the same way. Tell your gentleman friend 'absence makes the heart grows fonder' and see what he says. Be strong and be safe.

@tnmama Beautiful are you framing it

@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

Limiting the info I get subjected to on this pandemic is so important because one almost can't avoid it for it is everywhere. Another thing to take into consideration is keeping the numbers in context/perspective (ex: nationally versus globally). I try to offset this overwhelming situation with those more positive, more of kindness/kind acts and allow/accept that crying is okay too.

It’s really hard to deal with......😔