How are you all dealing with coronavirus and the restrictions many of us have to live

It's funny how many people I know who are extroverts are saying they love working from home. And then there's an extreme introvert like me, it *should* be heaven for me but I am going crazy at home.

I guess we still have a base level of interaction with others that everyone needs and I am getting zero.... Not enough even for an extreme introvert.

I've been trying to find info on ice rinks opening this winter - usually the season starts mid october - but I can't find any info. They're outdoors so that wouldn't be too bad. But the inside area with skate hire gets very crowded.

Well, good news. The car is fixed (sort of, anyways). Weekends are still strict lockdown with only one permit to go out for 3 hours that doesn't mention a trip to the mechanic. The guy that had towed our car is also a mechanic (but his shop is kind of far to get to with the car acting up) and had said what parts needed replacing. So, during the week when we have more freedom of movement, my husband bought those parts plus spark plugs. I made an appointment at Bosch, the closest mechanic for Saturday, the only day they had free. We requested permits to buy food and basic supplies, since that was the only option and dropped off the car.

After that we did head into town and bought some stuff at the supermarket and took a shared taxi home. We paid the fare for the usual 4 people so as to not have to share. We got home and realized that my husband's phone had been lost, probably left in the taxi. So, we had to go back into town to the taxi stand. One of the advantages of living in a smaller town is that we were able to get it back. In the capital, it would have been a lost cause. The guy at the taxi stand called on the radio to the cars and our driver reported that he had found it. So, we had to just wait a bit and when he finished his route he brought it back to us.

By then, it was time to go back to the mechanic. The car seems to be running much better. It doesn't feel like it is straining just to drive, so I hope that resolves things.

I’ve been doing pretty good because I’m an extreme introvert with some social anxiety. I’ve stayed in for the most part and done a lot of inner work. Tomorrow I’m starting a study with Eckhart Tolle. My pool was open this summer with strict rules and I really enjoyed floating most days. I miss things like going to the $5 movies with my mom every Tuesday and sometimes I feel claustrophobic with all of this. Watching the news too much is anxiety producing. I wish people would follow safety guidelines. Overall, I’m doing ok with some anxiety over the pandemic.

It's funny how many people I know who are extroverts are saying they love working from home. And then there's an extreme introvert like me, it *should* be heaven for me but I am going crazy at home.

I guess we still have a base level of interaction with others that everyone needs and I am getting zero.... Not enough even for an extreme introvert.

I've been trying to find info on ice rinks opening this winter - usually the season starts mid october - but I can't find any info. They're outdoors so that wouldn't be too bad. But the inside area with skate hire gets very crowded.

I am hearing more and more of people I know getting infected. A good friend's parent most recently, I hardly know what I can do or say to help.

Extrovert or introvert, having the possibility to go out for a little of fresh air is a need. The only difference is that introvert barely are gonna to meet with a crowd. What it’s as everybody know so far, a danger for the virus transmission. I was pretty upset when I saw this Summer an uncountable bunch of people together in the part or other sites.
And my government had nothing to say as they returned to “normality” according to the figures of deceased people and beds in hospitals we could allow.

We've never had a lockdown where we weren't allowed to go out, getting fresh air has always been possible. It really is interaction with people that I miss. Not big crowds but just seeing some friendly faces.

I posted an article on Facebook a few days back "Home office causes loneliness" and a friend responded with "am I the only one that loves home office?" And I have to say it stung a bit because it is so completely missing the point.

I do love not having to drag myself to the office, I love not having to commute, working from the comfort of my own house, not being surrounded by too many people all day.... but it IS still incredibly lonely when you live by yourself. I don't know why people can't understand that - I was talking to a friend in the same situation and she said the same of people around her.

I don't have kids, but I can still imagine how stressful it must be to have them home from school while you have to work. It's called empathy. And the lack of empathy makes me feel even more lonely.

This is a completely understandable and valid feeling in response to your home working/living alone. I am sorry your friend responded in a way you felt unsupported and invalidated by.

I notice this on Facebook a lot. People post "I feel..." and then other people respond "Well I feel something different" .

What you wrote about home working is something I hear from the other home workers I know. They are grateful for many aspects but also feel isolated at times. I heard some places where they go in one day a week and that seems to help a lot. People need people!

Personally I have worked outside the home throughout and although it has its downsides I know it's what's kept me this side of sane, being physically amongst people.

So although I have no solution to offer you I can offer heartfelt empathy.

We've never had a lockdown where we weren't allowed to go out, getting fresh air has always been possible. It really is interaction with people that I miss. Not big crowds but just seeing some friendly faces.

I posted an article on Facebook a few days back "Home office causes loneliness" and a friend responded with "am I the only one that loves home office?" And I have to say it stung a bit because it is so completely missing the point.

I do love not having to drag myself to the office, I love not having to commute, working from the comfort of my own house, not being surrounded by too many people all day.... but it IS still incredibly lonely when you live by yourself. I don't know why people can't understand that - I was talking to a friend in the same situation and she said the same of people around her.

I don't have kids, but I can still imagine how stressful it must be to have them home from school while you have to work. It's called empathy. And the lack of empathy makes me feel even more lonely.

The news here in the US is pretty sad. Seems like things are getting worse. I probably shouldn't check the news as much as I do. But I want to know what's going on. I have to get out once a week. So I want things to be safe. Overall, I think I am coping well with it. I miss having people come over to visit. But it's really Okay. My place is a mess at the moment. I look forward to when I can go out to eat with my family again.

Totally agree with you, Break.
My reply was very partial, I think it’s because it’s a long time since I felt what I think you are feeling.
After reading your post, I quickly remember when I was working away from home and stayed there by myself, in the town where my work was and I felt less lost and a little better during the labor days. Since I had a little of interaction those days. Weekends and day-off were as a prison. At least, this is how I felt it. Pretty frustrated.

I’m curious as to why some extroverts are coping so well with the situation. I’m trying to put myself on their shoes and for me, telephone or any other means of online communication counts for me as an interactions. I guess they have a large net of contacts and they can connect with them using telephone, video-chat, you can even do it among a group of people. I couldn’t do it so much. So. Maybe these extroverts, for whatever reason, they live their lives mainly around online connections. And they don’t see a difference. I don’t know. You could ask them.

Well since they have no interest in talking to me, I can't ask

Country is going into a lockdown light for all of November. In the hopes of being able to spend Christmas with family again.
Unless of course your family lives in another country where they're still only taking half arsed measures and it'll definitely still be a mess at Christmas

So definitely not going home on my week off next week for my mum's birthday.

And back to home office full time.

Ice skating rinks will remain closed.

It's going to be a tough month. At least we're still allowed to go outside though.

I am guessing from this you are either France or Germany. Meanwhile UK is looking on nervously - I suspect we can't afford another lockdown.

It sounds tough and sending you strength - keep heart, you will get that ice skating at some point and I bet it will feel so good when you do.