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Default May 12, 2020 at 03:24 PM
  #1
I have been alone in self-isolation. And I mean alone, alone, alone, alone. The only person I have talked to irl besides masked grocery store clerks is the mechanic who put a new battery in my truck. In...what...48 days? Not good. (Of course my adult child keeps in touch but he does not live physically near me...in fact is thousands of miles away.)

My state is loosening restrictions...except I am in that category of people told to continue as I have been...because of my age and some existing health conditions.

I read about things people are doing in other communities...but there is very little outreach here. No neighbor is knocking on my door seeing if I need help with groceries.

I am beginning to feel that the "new normal" for me is this...and I am not sure about it. I ordered a couple of sturdier face masks online because I can see myself wearing them into Autumn.

I was pretty isolated before this. Please, if you have a neighbor who you know lives alone...maybe just leave them a note on their doorstep asking how they are doing. If you have a relative who you know is completely alone...even a distant relative...give them a call. Keep us in mind.

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Default May 13, 2020 at 12:37 PM
  #2
Dear DechanDawa,

So sorry you are suffering this really horrible ordeal. Wish I knew what to say that would help. My mind doesn't seem to be functioning very well and I am sure that part of it has to do with the isolation. I sure hope others here will see your post and have kind and helpful words for you. It is truly heartbreaking what you are going through!

Sincerely yours, Yao Wen
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Default May 13, 2020 at 12:49 PM
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Dear DechanDawa,

So sorry you are suffering this really horrible ordeal. Wish I knew what to say that would help. My mind doesn't seem to be functioning very well and I am sure that part of it has to do with the isolation. I sure hope others here will see your post and have kind and helpful words for you. It is truly heartbreaking what you are going through!

Sincerely yours, Yao Wen





Oh,I am sorry, I didn't mean this as solely a self-pity trip. I just meant if people knew of someone who was isolating alone...maybe just check in with them. Maybe just a note stuck in their door is all.

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Default May 13, 2020 at 12:58 PM
  #4
I am sorry for this thread. I went through a couple of bad days. I sent people emails and they didn't respond and I guess it got me down. I think one person kind of ghosted me.


This put me in a bad mood. Before lockdown I could go out to a lot of places...like everyone else...and interact. I regularly went to the library, church, volunteering, recreation center, bookstores, etc. etc. So having to depend on emails and texts as a way of communicating has gotten old. People don't call as much. I really wish they would. All the texts are beginning to strike me as really superficial.

I know that EVERYONE wants their old life back. To those who are young, and youngish...you will get it back I am certain. But for older folks who knows what things will be like? I am tired of Facebook, Instagram, emails, and texts.


Sorry, sorry, sorry!!! I am sorry for complaining. I need to figure out a new kind of life. This one is not working, and this as the "new normal" is not going to work. I am sure everyone is feeling the same way.

As well I have financial problems, and health problems, and I guess I was feeling overwhelmed when I started this thread. I am really sorry.

But if you do know of someone who is isolating alone maybe call them on the phone or send them a note. I am certain it would make their day.

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Default May 13, 2020 at 01:15 PM
  #5
That’s a really great idea to contact any isolated neighbors. Thanks!

It does seem like this is going to go on forever! I am hearing schools are not going to open in the fall! My heart goes out to those parents who are forced to try to homeschool.

I know you are resourceful, Dechan. You will think of something. Nothing will keep you down!

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Default May 13, 2020 at 01:56 PM
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That’s a really great idea to contact any isolated neighbors. Thanks!

It does seem like this is going to go on forever! I am hearing schools are not going to open in the fall! My heart goes out to those parents who are forced to try to homeschool.

I know you are resourceful, Dechan. You will think of something. Nothing will keep you down!


Thanks!!! I love that vote of confidence.

PS The latest news from CA is shocking. Maybe it will happen to other states as well. As for me I am still going to be wearing a mask whenever I go out. Actually it is mandatory, still, in my state and has been for 6 weeks!

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Default May 13, 2020 at 02:04 PM
  #7
I am sure people are experiencing a lot of weird things in lockdown.

I have a lot of brothers...and one I had been estranged from for years. After lockdown I sent everyone I knew a text just asking how everyone was doing. So I sent him a text.

This resulted in suddenly getting a lot of gmails from him. I was trying to get along with him because he is a complicated person. Still is. Suddenly...in the middle of emailing back and forth he just vanished. And I guess that put me in a bad mood. I kind of got pulled in and then dropped. Am I surprised?

No. He does this. He has done this in the past. I guess I just got pulled in more than usual because of being lonely and in lockdown.

I am now coming up with a new plan...getting back to projects and other things I have going on...and less contact with my family of origin because they are very...uneven in their contact. It will be a lot of contact. Then no contact.

I am sure other people are going through similar stuff. I think people are bored so are just...maybe communicating with anyone. This brother suddenly started a blog, a new Facebook page, and a new Instagram page. He is overwhelming on his social media. He also keeps posting pictures from the past. I don't want pictures of me showing up on his accounts...from when I was a baby, a little girl, a teenager.

This is why I was complaining about social media and such. I am so done. I am going to try to get out more and get active. I need to clear my head of all this stuff.

It is worst when one is alone and has no one to process all this crap with. I have turned off the news and am taking a break from it except for important headlines.

Everyone I know is posting a lot more on all their social media accounts, too. Really, I wish someone would just pick up the phone.


THAT'S ALL. NO MORE COMPLAINING. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND NOW I HAVE TO LIVE UP TO IT. GETTING MY RUNNING SHOES ON AND GOING OUTSIDE!!!

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Default May 13, 2020 at 05:04 PM
  #8
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I am sorry for this thread. I went through a couple of bad days. I sent people emails and they didn't respond and I guess it got me down. I think one person kind of ghosted me.

This put me in a bad mood. Before lockdown I could go out to a lot of places...like everyone else...and interact. I regularly went to the library, church, volunteering, recreation center, bookstores, etc. etc. So having to depend on emails and texts as a way of communicating has gotten old. People don't call as much. I really wish they would. All the texts are beginning to strike me as really superficial.

I know that EVERYONE wants their old life back. To those who are young, and youngish...you will get it back I am certain. But for older folks who knows what things will be like? I am tired of Facebook, Instagram, emails, and texts.

Sorry, sorry, sorry!!! I am sorry for complaining. I need to figure out a new kind of life. This one is not working, and this as the "new normal" is not going to work. I am sure everyone is feeling the same way.

As well I have financial problems, and health problems, and I guess I was feeling overwhelmed when I started this thread. I am really sorry.

But if you do know of someone who is isolating alone maybe call them on the phone or send them a note. I am certain it would make their day.

No need to be sorry. In fact, I have personally liked a whole lot of what you have been putting down. It has touched me a lot.

I feel the same; never ending isolation. I loved your idea of 'contacting people if you know that they are alone'. I would like to do that myself; but it seems like I don't know anyone who is alone like I am. It would be nice if that message got out and people acted on it. It would be nice to get a note from someone asking me how I'm doing.

I live in an small apartment complex, and are in close quarters. I feel just as lonely as if I lived out in the boonies with no neighbors around. The people are OK but it's hard connecting. They seem to have their own little groups to hang with, so I feel like I'm not needed.

Before this pandemic happened, I felt isolated. But now I feel more that way. At least before this thing happened, there were some distant hope it can get better. For now, that hope is just gone.

Best to you.
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Default May 13, 2020 at 05:51 PM
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No need to be sorry. In fact, I have personally liked a whole lot of what you have been putting down. It has touched me a lot.

I feel the same; never ending isolation. I loved your idea of 'contacting people if you know that they are alone'. I would like to do that myself; but it seems like I don't know anyone who is alone like I am. It would be nice if that message got out and people acted on it. It would be nice to get a note from someone asking me how I'm doing.

I live in an small apartment complex, and are in close quarters. I feel just as lonely as if I lived out in the boonies with no neighbors around. The people are OK but it's hard connecting. They seem to have their own little groups to hang with, so I feel like I'm not needed.

Before this pandemic happened, I felt isolated. But now I feel more that way. At least before this thing happened, there were some distant hope it can get better. For now, that hope is just gone.

Best to you.




Thank you so much for replying. I felt bad like I was whining and complaining. I also live in an apartment complex. I live in a large new building and the way it is set up I rarely see anyone. There are probably 60 units in my building it has long hallways which lead to a covered garage in the middle. So everyone comes and goes through the garage. I only see people when they are driving in or out of the building.

We used to have once-a-month events like pizza parties in the lobby or other events but all has been cancelled and the lobby closed. There is an online community website...sigh...I got a cash reward this month for answering the most questions on it...but it is more a commercial device to advertise.


The best thing was on Earth Day the property management left plants on everyone's doorstep. More outreach like that would be nice.

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Default May 18, 2020 at 10:48 AM
  #10
Thanks for posting this, DechanDawa. Sorry I'm a little late replying, I'm not on this sub-forum very often.

I can relate. I was already fairly isolated - but I had a few things that kept me sane, a few places I could go, or friends that I could connect with, even if it was just having lunch once a year

And, I'm an introvert... at first, I was fine. I was already working from home, so there wasn't a huge change there.

But more and more... I'm just feeling worn down. Not having anyone I can really talk openly with, being very fatigued and tired, just wanting to stay in bed all the time. My job is stressful, I had been planning to look for a new one just before this happened (ha!) and was trying to figure out how to get out more and maybe make new friends. I had started going to a gym.

Now... bleh. I feel super isolated, and given what I was like before, that seems pretty extreme. I feel sad that I haven't done a better job of finding friends. It's bringing up a lot of mental health stuff - how I feel so unable to really be a "normal adult", how everyone else seems to already know how to do this stuff (make friends, be out in the world, manage their careers, etc.) I feel like my world was already very small, and this has just completely closed it down.

I'm hanging on to a couple things. I try to stay in touch with my sister, who is very reasonable and caring, although when we talked yesterday I was so tired, I felt like I was't really holding up my end of the conversation. I'm continuing my piano lessons via Zoom, and my teacher is always supportive and kind, so it's nice to have that contact, even though my motivation to practiced is pretty much gone. I've been doing neurofeedback, so try to reach out to my provider for that... though I'm worried he might be about to drop me.

And, that's it (other than work calls).

I don't know what the answer is. I find "people stuff" incredibly difficult - mostly because it's hard to find people that I really enjoy spending time with in real life, but I guess the bright side of all this is that it's made it VERY clear to me that I need to put more effort into this.

I don't know. Life feels really hard - and I wish I had an amazing therapist to help me figure some of it out, but that's a whole other set of issues for me

Thanks for letting me vent and for creating this topic. I'm sorry that you're struggling too (and that my reply was so one-sided and "me-centered"!)

Hang in there! *hugs* to everyone...
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Default May 18, 2020 at 02:15 PM
  #11
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Thanks for posting this, DechanDawa. Sorry I'm a little late replying, I'm not on this sub-forum very often.

I can relate. I was already fairly isolated - but I had a few things that kept me sane, a few places I could go, or friends that I could connect with, even if it was just having lunch once a year

And, I'm an introvert... at first, I was fine. I was already working from home, so there wasn't a huge change there.

But more and more... I'm just feeling worn down. Not having anyone I can really talk openly with, being very fatigued and tired, just wanting to stay in bed all the time. My job is stressful, I had been planning to look for a new one just before this happened (ha!) and was trying to figure out how to get out more and maybe make new friends. I had started going to a gym.

Now... bleh. I feel super isolated, and given what I was like before, that seems pretty extreme. I feel sad that I haven't done a better job of finding friends. It's bringing up a lot of mental health stuff - how I feel so unable to really be a "normal adult", how everyone else seems to already know how to do this stuff (make friends, be out in the world, manage their careers, etc.) I feel like my world was already very small, and this has just completely closed it down.

I'm hanging on to a couple things. I try to stay in touch with my sister, who is very reasonable and caring, although when we talked yesterday I was so tired, I felt like I was't really holding up my end of the conversation. I'm continuing my piano lessons via Zoom, and my teacher is always supportive and kind, so it's nice to have that contact, even though my motivation to practiced is pretty much gone. I've been doing neurofeedback, so try to reach out to my provider for that... though I'm worried he might be about to drop me.

And, that's it (other than work calls).

I don't know what the answer is. I find "people stuff" incredibly difficult - mostly because it's hard to find people that I really enjoy spending time with in real life, but I guess the bright side of all this is that it's made it VERY clear to me that I need to put more effort into this.

I don't know. Life feels really hard - and I wish I had an amazing therapist to help me figure some of it out, but that's a whole other set of issues for me

Thanks for letting me vent and for creating this topic. I'm sorry that you're struggling too (and that my reply was so one-sided and "me-centered"!)

Hang in there! *hugs* to everyone...





Thank you so much for sharing. I related to everything you said. I felt a bit ashamed after I posted this but now I am glad I did. Like you, I had plans for 2020...was going to go to the gym, swimming, yoga class etc. I had been ill in 2019 and was starting to feel better in 2020...ready to be more active...when Covid 19 hit. What happens to me is I have ups and downs. I will do pretty good...then will kind of collapse. I think I wrote this when I was feeling down.

What I want to say is...once someone becomes isolated...and it could be through a variety of factors...it is very difficult to pull out of it. It CAUSES whatever mental and emotional problems present to become even more profound. When I was married and had in-laws nearby, and a large social network...I was still always very aware of that one person who lived alone on the block. I think this was something my mother taught me. Every Christmas she would set an extra place at the table. When I asked who was it for she would smile mysteriously and say, "Someone will get blown in by the wind." In truth, she always invited someone she knew was going to be alone for the holiday...perhaps someone who had just moved into the community...or who was newly divorced or widowed.


I continued the tradition and always invited the single neighbor to my holiday table.


Sometimes it is really difficult to pull ourselves out on our own. We need the help of friends, neighbors, and community.

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Default May 18, 2020 at 02:39 PM
  #12
Last week was a tough week. By the weekend I gave up, ate ice cream and watched a bunch of Outlander reruns! Then I started to clean and organize.

For those of you who know what I am talking about in this thread...take heart, you are not alone.

It's is an extremely difficult place to be in especially at this time.

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Default May 18, 2020 at 07:50 PM
  #13
Thank you for this thread, DD

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Default May 21, 2020 at 01:31 PM
  #14
First of all, a big thank you to you and to everyone else who is trying to stay sheltered. It has saved lives. - a lot of lives.
Second, I used to work as a hazardous materials specialist, and when we had the spills I would tell people be smart not scared. That applies to the situation now.
Learn everything you can. Check the CDC (center for disease control) website. You will find out how bad the threat is where you live. Note - check the county you live in. In California, for example, most of the cases are in Southern California.
Be smart. The disease is carried by droplets. So keep distance between yourself and other people. That doesn't mean you can't go outside, or talk to a neighbor from across the street The mask you wear is more to protect other people from anything you might be carrying, but it offers you a little protection as well. (and the mask should cover your nose as well as your mouth.)
The disease is also carried by touch. Be aware of this if you handle something that someone else has touched. I personally believe in using disposable gloves even though no one says to do it.I like them for dispensing gas and using ATM machines. And I use hand sanitizer on the gloves if I feel I might have touched something with the gloves.
Wash your hands and use the sanitizer whenever you feel you could have gotten something on your hands or your gloves or on a doorknob or anything else. But if you haven't gone out of the house, there's very little chance you've touched anything with germs (yes, virus is a more technical term) on it. You can be careful after handling packages or groceries, or anything else from the outside.
And talk to your friends and family on the phone.
It's not a 100% guarantee, You make the choice. You choose how much of a risk you're willing to take. But think. Am I really in danger from doing this? Is there any way I could get the virus into me.?
I hope this helps.

Big hug to you (virtual hug.)
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Default May 21, 2020 at 01:52 PM
  #15
Well, I am in the high-risk category. I have been wearing a mask and gloves when I go out. But of course now more and more people are not wearing masks. In my county a mask order is still in effect but people are just ignoring it.

I really can't afford to get sick so I am being ultra-conservative.

I think, however, the isolation is also a health risk. Yesterday I called a crisis hotline to get some coping tips.


It's not getting any easier being this isolated. Tomorrow is my birthday. I plan to go out for a hike...but I will be alone...so really, it isn't much different than sitting home alone. It is what it is.


It would be worse to be alone and sick.

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Default May 28, 2020 at 09:08 AM
  #16
Hi DechanDewa -

Thanks so much for your reply! I'm sorry that I didn't see it sooner, I'm not often in this subforum, and with everything else, my brain is super foggy these days.

I think you're absolutely right about the isolation causing, or making worse, a lot of the mental health symptoms. It's so hard sometimes - it feels like the deck is stacked against us!

I talked to my neurofeedback guy last night, and he was so kind - but he really doesn't see the dysfunction that I have. He basically said that I'm kind, nice, have good boundaries, "not crazy" - etc - but he doesn't realize how much work goes in to that on my part. (I've driven people away, accidentally!, in the past by being "too much" and even manage to irritate therapists... so... I've learned to try to not overwhelm others so much when I'm feeling bad, but - I still feel bad a lot!!!)

Anyway, it was nice to get the positive comments, but also a little sad to feel kind of "not accurately seen".

Talking to him and my piano teacher is helping a little. And trying to set some goals and stay busy, even if I can't go anywhere. I just found an online class that relates to my job, so I've started that... that should help me get something done during the day, since there's not actually a lot of work to do right now.

And, by the way, that's so sweet of you to make an effort to invite people who might be alone on the holidays to your home!

So... how are you doing this week?
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Default May 28, 2020 at 03:11 PM
  #17
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Hi DechanDewa -

Thanks so much for your reply! I'm sorry that I didn't see it sooner, I'm not often in this subforum, and with everything else, my brain is super foggy these days.

I think you're absolutely right about the isolation causing, or making worse, a lot of the mental health symptoms. It's so hard sometimes - it feels like the deck is stacked against us!

I talked to my neurofeedback guy last night, and he was so kind - but he really doesn't see the dysfunction that I have. He basically said that I'm kind, nice, have good boundaries, "not crazy" - etc - but he doesn't realize how much work goes in to that on my part. (I've driven people away, accidentally!, in the past by being "too much" and even manage to irritate therapists... so... I've learned to try to not overwhelm others so much when I'm feeling bad, but - I still feel bad a lot!!!)

Anyway, it was nice to get the positive comments, but also a little sad to feel kind of "not accurately seen".

Talking to him and my piano teacher is helping a little. And trying to set some goals and stay busy, even if I can't go anywhere. I just found an online class that relates to my job, so I've started that... that should help me get something done during the day, since there's not actually a lot of work to do right now.

And, by the way, that's so sweet of you to make an effort to invite people who might be alone on the holidays to your home!

So... how are you doing this week?






Thanks for the "catch-up" Guill:

Well, I am sorry for the "not accurately seen" experience. Deep listening is a rare skill. I don't mean reflective listening...which often becomes simply someone trying to mirror back to you what you have said. Deep listening is more than that. It sounds like you did your part in trying to not overwhelm "the other," by toning down, even though that can be difficult. I recognize that as a DBT skill. This is supposed to make "the other" more receptive to hearing you (i.e. seeing you) but unfortunately that doesn't always happen.

I think that this "not being seen" thing is a serious problem. And now, with masks and social distancing...My Word! It would take a genius in sensitivity training to get past all the barriers.


As well, suddenly we are no longer in the minority as people suffering from lack of contact. Now the whole world is complaining. So if we were not accurately seen and heard before the pandemic...what are the chances of it happening now?

I am truly afraid to say it is mostly "every person for themselves," or every little "germ tribe" for themselves. When I am at the grocery store they are constantly blaring over the loudspeaker, "We are all in this together," yet at the moment Americans are severely divided by a politicized pandemic.

So, now what?

Well, Guill, I had a "breakdown, breakthrough" sort of experience. What this means is I wallowed in a lot of self-pity...I also spent many, many days in a row not only not being accurately seen but being bullied (by some family members), ignored, and isolated.

Finally, some self-support popped out its little head. I am sure you have a lot of it stored away. We are probably afraid we will never have enough which is why we hoard it. But self-support means giving ourselves the stuff we keep waiting around for others to give us. Like validation. Encouragement. Compassion.

You've also been adding up your resources...on-line classes, piano lessons, talking to your sister, setting goals, and staying busy.

But it's all still very hard.

As for myself I started to realize that social media sites were starting to make me feel lonelier. So I re-sized mine as simply a shadow of myself, then left them. My new plan is to prepare for the FUTURE. More planning, strategizing, goal setting, and maybe a little bit of dreaming, too.

More outside activity. What has stopped me is I am tired of doing things alone. I got into a stall about this. But I need to exercise and bring more movement into my life. So I need to apply discipline.


As I said before on this thread...once a person becomes isolated it is very difficult to pull out of it. It takes a village to save an isolated soul. Because that's what happened in the old days...the village did round up isolated people. I know this for a fact. I was in the Peace Corps and lived in a village on an isolated island in the South Pacific. The villagers told me they had a hard and fast rule...No One Lives Alone. Can you imagine that??? They would make sure of it. They said...because when one is alone it allows "doors" for demons to get into someone's brain. Really this was a rudimentary way of saying...they were taking care of every individual's mental health.

And their greeting, in their language...literally meant, "I see you."

Take care. I won't lie. I have been having it rough, but I am surviving.


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Default May 29, 2020 at 10:03 AM
  #18
Hiya, DechanDawa!

I'm sorry you've been having a bit of a rough time too lately. Hope things are getting better.

Yes, you really get the "deep listening" (versus just "reflecting") thing. It may not be my trainer's fault (I don't know what to call him, he's like a coach for neurofeedback and general "brain stuff"). He's actually a really lovely human, incredibly kind and generous and, at the same time, very real. I can understand why he doesn't see the more difficult aspects of my personality, because I don't show him! (Both because he's super easy to interact with and respectful, so he doesn't tend to trigger me, and because I like him and want to be kind back!)

I think it might be like... if you only ever visit the beach on nice days. The locals might warn you that it can get scary during the storms - floods, lightning, cashing waves. But you say, "Storms? There are never storms! Every time I've been here, it's been beautiful and peaceful!" I think people do that a lot... they assume that all the data points they see paint the whole picture, and don't realize that there may be things happening between those points. And, when you try to tell them, it's almost unbelievable to them, because it doesn't match what they know/see.

But you're right, "not being seen" is a problem. I think it's harder, b/c I don't know that I have an accurate enough picture of myself to project it outwards. I feel like a jumble, so...

>>Well, Guill, I had a "breakdown, breakthrough" sort of experience. What this means is I wallowed in a lot of self-pity...I also spent many, many days in a row not only not being accurately seen but being bullied (by some family members), ignored, and isolated.

Oh no!!! I'm so sorry. I'm not sure from this if you mean that it happened recently, or in the past? Either way, I'm sorry for your experiences with your family.

I hope you have some distance now from them, so you don't have to endure that anymore!

And thanks for the reminders about self-support!

I really enjoyed your story about the village! That's amazing to me, and makes sense. I can't even imagine what it must be like to be in a community like that. I imagine there are some downsides - it might be really hard to be that connected with people you didn't choose.

>>And their greeting, in their language...literally meant, "I see you."

That's beautiful! Thanks for sharing it!
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Default May 29, 2020 at 10:53 AM
  #19
Never-ending isolation? That's beautiful! Thanks for sharing it!


Guill...I wrote you another beautiful reply but they would not let me post it until I counted the umbrellas in that puzzle picture thingie and they kept saying I got it wrong (I see the umbrellas, duh!) and finally I gave up. Sorry.

About communication styles... sometimes I think people are telepathic mind-readers...and they are not! I actually have to try to make myself be known! That's sometimes difficult. This has been a kind of lifelong problem for me. I really need to work on it.

The villagers didn't force people together...more like matching up like people. I remember there were a few teen boys who wanted to be independent so they put them all in one big grass hut (yes, grass hut) like a dorm...and it became like the party hut. Girls weren't allowed inside so they hung by the front veranda. It was so cute.

PS I get the thing about the beach and the storm. People peg me as a very calm person so when I get upset (stormy) THEY FREAK OUT and then I have to be all worried about them.

PS No, my adult brothers bully me now. Not physically...more like, intellectually, making me feel dumb. Sigh. I have four brothers and am the only female as my older sister died a few years ago. They miss her...they were like the Lost Boys and she like Wendy. I am just...the scapegoat. So now I have run away from them for awhile!

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Default May 30, 2020 at 09:21 AM
  #20
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Originally Posted by DechanDawa View Post
Guill...I wrote you another beautiful reply but they would not let me post it until I counted the umbrellas in that puzzle picture thingie and they kept saying I got it wrong (I see the umbrellas, duh!) and finally I gave up. Sorry.
Ha! No worries, thank you for the response! I know, those puzzles... sometimes they ask me over and over to pick out... crossroads, trucks, traffic lights. It's so frustrating!

And, ugh - I'm so sorry that your brothers bully you now. I feel like it's immature and short-sighted on their part, you seem like such a lovely person, they don't realize what they're missing out on. (And sorry about the loss of your sister. )

The village sounds like such a neat place. It's a little hard for me to imagine, as I struggle a lot with attachment and community. But, maybe if I were born into a community like that, it would be my "normal" and not such a struggle. I saw your other post, about not wanting to live alone, and I'm sort of the opposite - I find it very hard to share space with people.

Take care!
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