Did your personality/demeanour change after covid isolation.

[supportseeker]

Before covid lockdowns I was a different person. I laughed, could have a good time, I set goals and looked forward to things in life. I felt positive emotions and was overall optimistic. I have no family and few friends as I’m not originally from Australia; however, being locked inside for extended periods throughout 2020-almost 2022 changed me. I lost work, spoke to no one most days of the week, saw no one (as we weren’t allowed to meet up with others). In 2019 we had bush fires where we couldn’t go outside much, then covid, now in 2022 in miserable and rainy every week. I had a baby during that time where I had to completely self isolate during pregnancy to not get covid and have my partner there for delivery. I eat organic and clean, I exercise and am fit. I do stretches and have tried acupuncture. I function but feel nothing. I have no happiness, look forward to nothing, have lost all desire to go out. I don’t see the point, especially with bad weather and prices. I feel like my spark for life completely died during those years of isolation. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety now as well which I had not experienced before. Does anyone else feel this way? 

[Fiatlux]

Hi 

Congratulations on your new Baby! You have a positive future to look forward to.

A lot of us here went through a lot of trauma during, before and after Covid, however you mention that you suffer from severe depression and anxiety now.

Have you reached out to get support, apart from here on BB.

With the arrival of a baby as well as, I encourage you to seek help for your depression.

Keep in touch here on the forums, others here will offer a lot of support.

Please take care of yourself and your new baby, that is a priority.

Take Care 

[Beeee]

Hello supportseeker,

You're not alone in how you feel.

Having to completely isolate while pregnant can't have been an easy experience and so it's understandable you feel the way you do now. Covid and lockdown were hard and I think everyone in the world has changed in some way because of it. Personally I felt that after the pandemic, my health anxiety got much worse and it was because of this that I started therapy. Have you considered or tried therapy?

Even now, as you've mentioned, with the weather and increasing prices, things don't feel back to normal. Have you tried planning activities for yourself to look forward to? Perhaps a lunch with friends, or joining a mother/child playgroup to connect with other mothers who were pregnant during lockdown?

Wishing you the best,

Beeee

[Matchy69]

Hi supportseeker I can relate to your post especially on you being pregnant during covid.My daughter was pregnant during covid and had to even social distance from her husband.It just seems so crazy now.When she had my grandson we weren't even allowed to see the baby for weeks which I found very hard at the time.I tried sending flowers to her in hospital but that wasn't allowed either.It really did effect so many loved ones around her.On a more brighter note my daughter just gave birth to her second child a couple of weeks ago.

[ecomama]

Hi supportseeker, sounds like you've had a rough time with being forced to isolate for long durations and the impacts this had on your whole life. 

A HUGE congratulations on your new baby! Wow that's an accomplishment in itself lol. 
Still this whole time must've been stressful for you most especially, hugs. 

I've had lots of children myself in very trying circumstances. 

With the pandemic, many of us seemed to shut down emotionally after a while because it was all TOO emotional for us to cope with. 
Our psyche kept us "safe" by doing this. 
So it was okay for this to happen at the time.... now you're feeling all sorts and uncomfortable with how you're feeling. 

So a change is necessary and I can see you've tried all sorts too, well done you! 

I know costs are horrible at this time (we were in poverty throughout raising my kids too)... 
Have you considered joining a Playgroup nearby? 
They're AWESOME in getting us linked in with other young families, potential to make lovely friends for you AND your baby too! Even your H lol. 

Once you join up, it's a cheap yearly fee, you can attend ANY Playgroups in Australia! 

You only need to have a Nappy bag prepped, bring something to share for morning tea (I always baked a cake as this was cheap for me to do) and some snacks for your baby. 
Toys are abound there, usually outside AND inside play areas. The "new" toys was a great thing for my kids as they had so little at home. 

ALSO Please go to a Community Garden meet up. Free of cost. Tons of people eager to meet you and the bub, some even hold the baby while they sleep! You can get a ton of organic veg to take home for FREE. 
They're awesome places and very welcoming I've found. 

Connection could be what's missing. 
Love EMxxxx