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What's something you secretly liked about quarantine?

Holly Jane

2019/2020 feels so long ago now and yet despite it being such a strange time there are parts of it I miss, like staying in all the time and not being able to socialise and get close to other people.

Though it sounds bad, that part I miss the most. Socialising and being close to people is one of my biggest anxiety and autism triggers, often resulting in panic attacks and meltdown.

From that point quarantine felt like heaven for me.

It's weird because I am a people person, I would love a friend or somebody to love who also loves me but because of autism and severe anxiety I come across not as a people person. I hate fighting against my own mind, it's so illogical.

And yet, to most people I must come across as cold/rude/shy/ignorant maybe? I hope not, I hope people see me in a better way than this but I worry they don't.

Anyway back to the thread in question. As the title says...

What's something you secretly liked about quarantine?

Parents

  • You aren’t alone with this. I miss the peace and quiet from the lock down times… Finally I could be myself and didn’t have to ‘Act’ a certain way, I could avoid contact with others without fear of judgment and didn’t have to hang around and make any small talk, something I have always found difficult and mostly pointless.

    I didn’t know I was autistic then though so I still felt like I was a brown sheep amongst the white and black ones. I was different and I didn’t know why, that made me feel even more isolated and alone especially as I couldn’t meet up with family.

    That was challenging for me. But in the countryside it was like a ghost town and I could go for walks and not meet anybody, it was bliss.

Reply

  • You aren’t alone with this. I miss the peace and quiet from the lock down times… Finally I could be myself and didn’t have to ‘Act’ a certain way, I could avoid contact with others without fear of judgment and didn’t have to hang around and make any small talk, something I have always found difficult and mostly pointless.

    I didn’t know I was autistic then though so I still felt like I was a brown sheep amongst the white and black ones. I was different and I didn’t know why, that made me feel even more isolated and alone especially as I couldn’t meet up with family.

    That was challenging for me. But in the countryside it was like a ghost town and I could go for walks and not meet anybody, it was bliss.

Children
  • in reply to August
    August said:
    Finally I could be myself and didn’t have to ‘Act’ a certain way

    My fave part of that dreadful time as well - being free to be myself without the fear of being judged. I miss that. People can be very judging, not taking the time to think about how you're really feeling and struggling.

    I liked not being allowed out as well. I’ve never been much outgoing and places with tons of people have always been a big No-No for me so being confined to my own home was pure heaven.

     

    I feel like you have to be ND to truly appreciate how it feels. It's easy to see somebody who's different and instantly judge them without taking the time to appreciate what they're thinking and feeling. Most people judge without considering what someone is going through.

    Don't be too hard on yourself. Every one of us here can relate to feeling like this at the best of times. You're autistic and you are never alone in being this way.

  • in reply to August

    Your experience was very similar to mine, the world was finally running at the correct speed! I was just starting to explore autism, when the world reopened I hated it, I think it was the point when I finally realised that I wasn’t the same as everyone else. I really didn’t cope with it all.

    My wife summed people up, she is an NHS nurse, “At the moment we are saints and people are banging saucepans for us, give them 6 months and they will be back to spitting and assaulting us.” She wasn’t far off.