Is it weird that I don't mind the whole covid situation?

My country has just gone into its second lockdown. When I listen to the press conference it is all doom and gloom and I understand that somewhat. Lots of talk is going on (ever since the beginning in March) how difficult it is for people because there is a lack of physical contact between people, how people feel lonely, that there are no activities. The government stresses that we should text and call friends and family as much as possible.

I don't get it. I haven't felt a feeling of loneliness once during the entire period. I haven't craved seeing people, hanging out with people. All of this makes me feel very weird and different and I already felt quite alienated (from reality?) to begin with.
I do understand that for most people getting together is a necessary to be happy but there are so many possibilities to keep in contact, so what if a couple of months of few contact are needed?

Then there are the endless "war" comparisons. How do people dare making a connection with war? No food, houses bombed, clinics bombed, hundreds of deaths every week etc Even I would dread war but not this isolation situation.

Do I lack empathy or something? Why does this annoy me so much? With all respect for the sick and worse but I have felt very relieved personally during the past months because there is no pressure to be social anymore.

Heh, all this fuss and I'm barely affected outside of some pesky restrictions. My lifestyle was already self-isolation. Just another reminder that my life is absolutely nothing like normies', and also that it has its perks, such as not being needy for social interaction.

People keeping their distance, wearing a mask to hide my hideous face... I actually don't mind it either. The 1st lockdown was ok, I'm used to being alone, and doing nothing.

I don't think that's weird. For many of us it hasn't been a difficult adjustment because we're so isolated to begin with, but I understand how it could be difficult for somebody more social or outgoing. It's been a strange year and everyone is coping as well as they can. There's no blueprint and no right or wrong way to feel about it.

If there were ever an actual lockdown, like happened to some people in Wuhan, it'd drive me crazy being trapped inside for weeks. But people just keep using the word "lockdown" to describe being free to go outside any time of day or night, travel as far as I normally travel, and do the same things I normally do (lots of hikes where there's no people, occasional grocery shopping). I do wish I could do some things with people, but that was only happening a couple times a month pre-pandemic so it's easy shrug off not seeing anyone for a bit.

In fact the health advice is to stay outside -- the opposite of a lockdown.

If they enforced that, then that would be horrifying.

Are you a very active person? When you're in your "baseline" mood, do you feel happy or think you're spending your time in a meaningful way?

I wouldn't say you lack empathy, but if the answer to that second question is no, can you not at least imagine how someone would feel if they went from filling their time with things that make them happy and fulfilled to a routine of tedium and listlessness?
I've been on both ends of the spectrum and I also used to think it strange when someone said they felt stressed if they weren't allowed to do certain activities. What I didn't know at the time is that I simply had no concept of happiness and meaningful use of time, so my boring reality was a nightmare to anyone who'd never had to experience it.

I can relate. In a strictly social aspect, the pandemic has minimal effect on me. People I am not seeing with due to the pandemic, I already haven't been seeing even in normal circumstances. Unlike the ones that share can relate to this, majority of the population do not. They have active personal and social lives. The pandemic do indeed obstructs this. Through the pandemic, simply observing my housemates, my brother and sister, my cousins and some friends, they have been going crazy and agitated from even lessened socializing. While I'm just here mostly ok with near zero socializing. If this pandemic were to happen many years earlier, then I would probably be in their shoes too.

Hey

For some people, keeping contact online is a good alternative. For others, staying in touch online doesn't replicate the joy of in-person interaction. And of course, remember that not everyone has the option - either those who can't afford to be connected online, or those staying in care homes that don't know how.

The war comparison is more emotive, rather than an actual comparison. The idea of a national effort coming together to overcome a common enemy invokes that sense of purpose for something greater, and WWII clearly brings up many emotions for many. You might not dread this situation, but millions of others are afraid of this virus that has already claimed a million lives worldwide.

There are silver linings to this situation, of course. Renewed focus on our healthcare and social care services during this situation. The lifestyle halt has caused a lot of people to reflect on their own lives, and add things (e.g. hobbies) that help them to grow and find more joy in life. Sometimes we take those around us for granted, but not being able to see them for months reminds us of how important social interaction is for our mental wellbeing. The list goes on. But these are silver linings, at the end of the day.

Hope this helps to understand better!

Much love <3

What you're saying makes sense. In a strange way, keeping a safe distance has "normalized" distancing ourselves from people. And the people that have a preference for frequent contact are having difficulties coping.

I feel like the codependent people such as in my situation are well, being pushed over the edge. I've never much used social skills to survive and before covid, I didnt have to. Now that I do, its being stuck between a rock and a hard place. And pretending there are people to socialize with. Which there are but its very hard. This is what I imagine being elderly is like. People you knew have "died off" in a way. You have limited mobility, somewhat limited resources and no one thinks to reach out to you. :/
It all sounds very grim, until you realize that all of humanity has gotten to this point because they had to get along just for survival.

It should make everyone feel awful. If it doesn’t, there’s something horribly wrong. I don’t want to see the whole world taught to be like me - avoiding everyone. No connections. No joy. No hope. If you don’t feel awful about living under open ended house arrest and in a surveillance state, check your pulse to make sure you’re alive.

I have had the same issue.
I am so used to solitude. The only that has changed is a lot less travel.

I'm reminded of the tourism slogan Carson Valley (Nevada) is using this year: "Your social distance is our normal distance." This must be tough for people who live in super-crowded inner cities, but for a lot of people it's very easy to safely go outside as normal. Simply standing further apart and wearing a mask while talking isn't much of a burden outside of big cities.

There's lots of drama around the pandemic thing. I just tend to try to make my life without getting into all these thoughts of people who want to live like Hollywood stars and have their feelings hurt becaues they can't anymore. I think the people less affected by the pandemic are the richest and the poorest of all. The middle class is taking the biggest hit. Lots of business owners can't open their business and the bureaucracy keeps charging them permits and licenses etc, which they can't afford to pay because the same government is keeping them from reopening. Anyway, I said enough already...

I'm so isolated anyway that not much has changed. Pretty much life as usual for me except I have to wear a mask everywhere.

I don't mind isolating myself from people on a day to day basis. Not being able to travel is what's making things difficult for me. Everyone that I'm close with live overseas and not being able to visit them messes with my mental health, especially with the holidays coming up.

Nothing has really changed for me. I've been going to work like normal this whole time. There for awhile gyms were closed and I had to work out at home, but they've been back open for months now. Only difference is wearing a mask everywhere.
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I think it depends on who you are as a person, what you like to do and that kind of stuff. My flatmate doesn't seem very bothered by it. He has a very well paid job working from home and his main hobby is gaming online with his friends. I one the other hand lost my job due to COVID which was also my main way of socialising. Can't find a new job because so few people are hiring... In my spare time I enjoy going to the pub and parties and meeting girls... Obviously can't do any of that at the moment. I also don't like talking online or on the phone with people so I'm feeling pretty lonely.

People have been so tense because of corona. Now, I can say "I can't do this because I'm feeling super anxious" and people give me so much slack. The only problem is that I feel like this almost everyday so I'm always going to need extensions and space and quiet and darkness...
The other great thing is that no one judges me for staying inside by myself now.

I was already living like i was in a lockdown so it makes no difference.